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HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 



THE 



Old Senate House, 1777, 

CITY OF KINGSTON, N. Y. 




ERECTED BY COL. WESSEL TEN BROECK, 1676. 



BY FREDERICK EDWARD WESTBROOK, 

Counsellor at Law and Member of the New York City Historical Society. 



KINGSTON, X. Y. : 

wu. & Freeman Branch Office Print, 43 Wall Street. 



y ■. 



The Two Hundredth Anniversary 



OK THE ERECTION <>!•• THE BUILDING 



OCCUPIED AS THE SENATE HOUSE 

Of the State of New York in 1777, 



THE VEAK OK THE ADOPTION OF THE FIRST STATE CONSTITUTION, AT 

ESOPU8, (NOW CITY OF KINGSTON), TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES 

OF OLD PROMINENT CITIZENS OK KINGSTON, ETC., ETC. 



Senate House of the State of New York. 1777. Nos. 5 and 7 Clinton Avenue. Kingston. N. Y. 




Summer Residence of and belonging to FREDERICK E. WESTBROOK, Esq.. of New York City. 

Col. WESSEL Ten Broeck, born in Westphalia, 1635, erected this stone mansion about 1676, wherein 
the Senate of the State of New' York was held in the year of the adoption of its first Constitution, 1777, 
and continued therein until the burning of Kingston by the British. October 16th, 1777. 



BY FREDERICK EDWARD WESTBROOK, 

Counsellor at Law and Member of the New York City Historical Society. 



KINGSTON, X. Y. : 
[ournal& Freeman Branch Office Prim. 43 Wall Street. 

188^ 






' 



. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



In sketching the history of States, there are events which have occurred 
in prominent places of national importance which posterity loves to dwell 
upon and to commemorate. Remarkable deliverances from savage brutal- 
ity and a painful record of their atrocities, as well as the calamities arising 
from Christian warfare, which are necessarily blended with the recollection 
of great distress or imminent peril, and whether as men or citizens we now 
greatly rejoice, by that very joy we expressly declare that our fathers once 
had cause to mourn. 

Perpetual sunshine suits not the state of the natural world. Continued 
success is by no means favorable either to human happiness or virtue. The 
gloom incident to winter is the happiest recommendation of the return of 
the flowers of spring. The blessings of peace would be but imperfectly un- 
derstood were it not for the antecedent anxieties resulting from the sorrows 
of war. 

With reflections and feelings of this character relative to the great events 
incident to a retrospect of 200 years, particularly during the seventeenth 
century, that haveoccurred in this important place, successively known as At- 
karkarton,Wiltwyck, Esopus, now tlie City of Kingston, X. Y., and which are 
immediately connected with the early Indian wars and with the wars of the 
American Revolution of 177G and of 181 2, which resulted with the permission 
and wisdom of the Supreme Ruler in the accomplishment of the independ- 
ence of the United States, which is now the asylum of the oppressed of ail 
lands who desire the advantages arising from a government humane and 
just in its moral sway over despotism, with its 50,000,000 inhabitants, will 
continue till the world eventually becomes educated, prepared and enabled 
to adopt a government similar in its character aud in the enjoyment of 
like blessings. 

The two hundredth anniversary of the erection of the walls of the vener- 
able building now known as the Senate House of the State of New York, 
1777, in the year of the adoption of its first constitution within its time- 
honored walls, which survived the ravages of fire and the power and efforts 
of the enemy in a desolating war, is a fitting and enduring monument to 



perpetuate the remembrance of those who fell in the service and contributed 
successfully in the accomplishment of the independence of their native or 
adopted land; the honest pride which arises within us on hearing what ar- 
duous struggles our ancestors endured to obtain such deliverances animates 
the heart to support and protect their memories. 

We consider the earth as sacred where these heroes have long slept in 
death. This monumental building, its walls, if suffered to remain, will 
continue for centuries to come as a venerable relic of a heroic and suffering 
period ; and the patriotic citizen as he passes by will exult in these vestiges 
of his country's glory, and feel an ardent hope (if necessary) that his name 
may hereafter be enrolled in the records of its fame. Our native land con- 
tains every enjoyment that this life can afford, and when existence termi- 
nates we all look to it for a grave where we can rest in peace ; unassuming,. 
vast in extent, powerful in resources, prompt in affording relief, firm and 
undismayed in danger, and merciful in victory, its 50,000,000 of inhabi- 
tants, separated from Europe by the stormy Atlantic, if united and relying 
upon that powerful Almighty arm that supported them in the infancy of 
their days, is capable on arriving at the manhood of their strength to hum- 
ble any daring invader who may attempt to disturb the peaceful character 
of this nation, now the most powerful in the world. It displays mildness 
in its government and impartiality in its laws, which in this State is under 
a written constitution emanating from the people ; its laws which govern 
ami the hands which execute them are the creation of their wisdom and the 
representatives of their power. 

In the luxuriance of youth and in the vigor of manhood it is wise to 
pause in our pursuits of business and pleasure, and to reflect upon the pre- 
- cious memories of the past. The barbarian Briton who defended his coun- 
try at an early and rude period against the Roman invasion, driven to the 
remotest extremity of the land, rallied his followers to battle by the 
heart-stirring appeal : " Think of your fathers and your posterity." The 
lofty cliffs were covered with an army, whose firm resistance daunted the 
invaders, and though the Britons had only their naked limbs to oppose to 
tin; Roman armour, it required resolution and address even in veteran le- 
gions, before a fierce and bloody struggle terminated in gaining the shores. 
Continual storms destroyed or separated the fleet, which the perseverance 
of C;usar renewed, and frequent sallies of British cavalry, and chariots 
from the woods and mountains checked the progress of devastation. 

If in so imperfect a state of civilization the inhabitants of the British 

island could be thus attached to their caverns and forests, can there possibly 

exist the smallest doubt that their posterity in the new world will at all 

times act worthy of such distinguished ancestors \ 

One of the chief causes of the early prosperity of Rome is found in the 

t 



■cherished recollections of the virtues of its founders. No virtuous people 
will ever forget those by whom their infancy was cradled and defended. 
Those brave men who enlisted to support, sustain and protect the govern- 
ment of their country in the late civil strife, were animated and sustained 
in that great conflict by the powerful reflection that this was the govern- 
ment erected by their fathers which was shedding its benign influence over 
all lands, and was the only hope and consolation to the lovers of freedom 
and of civil and religious liberty. 

At Esopus, now City of Kingston, N. Y., about the year 1076, Col. 
Wessel Ten Broeck erected the walls and finished the building since known 
as the Senate House of the State of New York, 1777. He was born in 
Westphalia, and was probably the great ancestor of all who bear his hon- 
ored name in this State, being prominent in the church whose first clergy- 
man was Rev. Mr. Blom, called in 1660 ; also was inducted into civil 
•office about the year 167G at Esopus, as the records of the Ulster 
County Clerk's office, N. Y., show in an affidavit made by him of that 
date that he was forty years of age, which was about the time. of the 
•erection of said building. Being a prominent man and in possession of 
what was then considered a large estate, he erected it in a substantial man- 
ner, which was considered at that early and rude period a large and grand 
building. The ceilings of Dutch houses generally are about six feet six 
inches. This house is eight feet seven inches in height, which now causes 
it still to become a pleasant building as a place of residence. 

Col. Ten Broeck's family was composed of his wife, Jacomyntie, daugh- 
ter of Rev. Laurentius Van Gaasbeek, and eight children, born at Esopus, 
now Kingston, between the years of 1670 and 1690. Their names are the 
following : John Ten Broeck ; Jacob Ten Broeck ; Mary Ten Broeck: 
Elsie Ten Broeck ; Sarah Ten Broeck, who married Abraham Van Gaas- 
beek, who became owner of the Senate House through his wife, Sarah ; 
Wessel Ten Broeck : Conrad Ten Broeck ; Gertrude Ten Broeck, married 
John Dumont. John Dumont and Gertrude Ten Broeck (daughter of Col. 
Wessel Ten Broeck), his wife, had four children as follows : Rachel, who 
married Tjerck Beckniau, who died in her 94th year, leaving an only child, 
Sarah Bookman, wife of the late Rev. Dr. Cornelius D. Westbrook ; Ger- 
trude, who died unmarried : Sarah Dumont, who married Hon. Peter Van 
■Gaasbcok: Mary Dumont, married John Ten Broeck; John Dumont, mar- 
ried Sarah and Elizabeth Waring. He died in 1869, in his 95th year. 

Abraham Van Gaasbeek, who married Sarah, daughter of Col. Wessel 
Ten Broeck as aforesaid, was the uncle of Sarah Dumont. He devised the 
building known as the Senate House and his personal estate by will (see 
book C, page 7'J, in County Clerk's office, Kingston, Ulster County) to his 



loving niece Sarah Duniont, who afterwards became the wife of Hon. Peter 
Van Gaasbeek, only son of said Abraham Van Gaasbeek. Said Hon. Peter 
Van Gaasbeek and Sarah Dumont his wife had an only child surviving, 
Sarab Van Gaasbeek, who became owner of said Senate House on the death 
of her mother as sole heir at law. On the death of Sarah Van Gaasbeek, 
about 1850, by her last will and testament she devised the Senate House 
and grounds and other property to her cousin, Charles Ruggles Westbrook, 
son of the late Rev. Dr. Cornelius D. Westbrook. In April, 1869, Charles 
R. Westbrook and wife conveyed by deed the Senate House and grounds to 
his brother, Frederick E*. Westbrook, of the city of New York, the present 
owner. From the above record of title the building and grounds have 
been in possession of Col. Wessel Ten Broeck and his heirs from 1676 to 
the year 1869. 

We will now return to Col. Wessel Ten Broeck, who married as his sec- 
ond wife the widow of Thomas Chambers, the first prominent settler of 
Wiltwyck or Esopus, now Kingston, and late owner of the manor of Fox- 
hall, 1698. Her only son, Abraham Van Gaasbeek, by a former husband, 
Rev. Laurentius Van Gaasbeek, second minister of the Reformed Dutch 
Church of Wiltwyck or Esopus, now Kingston, from 1667 to L 680, on his 
death became owner of the manor of Foxhall, devised by. his stepfather, 
Thomas Chambers (her second husband), on condition of his assuming the 
name of Abraham Van Gaasbeek Chambers. The descendants of Col. Wes- 
sel Ten Broeck and Van Gaasbeek have owned and occupied this Senate 
House of 1777 for near two centuries. 

In the records of the Ulster County Historical Society in the year I860 
in book part 2, cage 1'24, is the following : " The Senate (of 1777) sat at 
the house of Abraham Van Gaasbeek, a stone building constructed after the 
then Esopus fashion, the last one on the west side of Fast Front street, now 
known as Clinton avenue, near the junction of that street with North Front 
street. This fact was shown by an entry on the journal of the Provincial 
Convention, its own records, not mentioning any room. This house has 
recently been occupied by Rev. Dr. Cornelius I>. Westbrook." The late 
Mrs. .Mary Ten Broeck, the grand-daughter of Col. Wessel Ten Broeck, 
and wife of the late .John Ten Broeck, of Flatbush, near Kingston, who 
died about thirty years ago, over ninety years of age, confirms what has 
been said relating to the time of the election of this building in a con- 
versation witli the writer before her death. She had a family record to the 
present time. . 

There have been many articles written which have been published. I 
will select one of them, written by a well-known writer. Miss Margaret 
Winslow, of Brooklyn, X. V. 



[From the New York Observer.] 

THE BUILDING ERECTED IN 1676. 

The Oldest Public Building in the United States — Once a Sen- 
ate Chamber — The Great Men it has Sheltered — 
Other Historic Structures. 

" Ulster 'County is rich in material of historic interest. Many of these 
are associated with this venerable house in which we are now sheltered. It 
is a quaint mansion, you may be sure, with solid stone walls nearly two feet 
in thickness in front, while the back is built of scarcely discolored brick 
brought from Holland at least two centuries ago ; for the house was built in 
1676 by the ancestor of our host, one Colonel W.essel Ten Broeck, who was 
born in Westphalia in 1635, elected a schoppen or public officer in 1670, 
and then appointed to superintend the settlement of the nieuw tit)/-/), or the 
villages of Hurley and Marbletown. The Colonel intermarried with the 
Van Gaasbeek family, had eight children, and from the descendant of one of 
these — Sarah Van Gaasbeek, great-grand-da ugh tor of the Patroon, Thomas 
Chambers, alias Clabbort — it came, by will, into the possession of the pres- 
ent owner, Frederick E. Westbrook, Esq., a New York lawyer. The well- 
known Dutch pride of ancestry is in this case quite overshadowed by the 
pride of its owner in the possession of ' the oldest public building in the 
United States." In 1869 he commenced repairing the old house, which was 
in its day considered one of remarkable grandeur', its length being seventy 
feet and height eight feet seven inches — the usual Dutch measurement 
of the period being only six feet. The original beams of prepared oak in 
the cellar and ceiling were found in perfect condition, also the sloping gar- 
ret with its five bed-rooms. The Unto (lean-to) kitchen, only six feet high, 
was also perfect, but the roofs have been added since the Revolution, such 
light woodwork having all perished in the conflagration of the town in 1777. 
The antiquary has altered the interior as little as possible, to make it hab- 
itable, and has gathered in the seven old rooms, which all lay side by side, 
a heterogeneous mass of old furniture, paintings, engravings and historical 
records: while above one of the many outside doors he has placed the in- 
scription : 

Colonel I Vessel Te n Broeck erected this house in 1676, wherein the Senatt 
of New York was held during the adoption of its first Constitution, 1777. 

An evening spent in such an atmosphere of antiquity cannot but be in- 
teresting, and the hours fled rapidly by as we conversed of the stirring- 
events which the old house had seen and the great men it had sheltered. 
Here Ten Broeck, Pierre Van Cortlandt, Gansevoort, Governeur Morris, 
Robert R. Livingston, Colonel DeWitt, Samuel Townsend, General Scott, 
Colonel Broome and others carried on their deliberations concerning the 
form of government to be adopted by the new State, and in one of these 
low-roofed chambers, in all probability, John day drew the draft of the 
Constitution which was adopted at the ' Constitution House' — the old Bo- 
gardus Inn, which till quite recently stood on the corner of Maiden Lane 
and Fair street, and in which the first ' Assembly' of the State of New 
York met — with but one dissenting voice, preparatory to its promulgation 
from a platform erected on a barrel head April 22, 1777. 



Hero from time to time have come the great men whom Kingston has 
either received or sent forth into public life. Here Gen. Armstrong, the 
boy hero of the Revolution, father-in-law of William B. Astor and ex-Sec- 
retary of War, lived in 1804, previous to his departure as Minister to the 
French Court, leaving a small marble fireplace, the first ever seen in Kings- 
Ston, as a memorial of his residence ; and here, last spring, Gen. Arthur, 
the Republican candidate for Vice-President, bowed his tall head to escape 
collision with the time-honored and smoke-begrimed rafters ; and here we 
— the honored Drs. Van Santvoord and Hoes, with the host and the writer 
— sat and discussed the history of Kingston : its first and second Indian 
wars, 1659 and 1661, and the burning of the fort, L663 ; Stuyvesant's 
treaty of peace, 1061, at which period the wily savages ceded him the land 
on winch the city now stands, ' to grease his feet' in return for the compli- 
ment of his visit, on which occasion the renowned warrior changed the 
Hutch name of Esopus, or Groote Esopus, variously stated to be derived 
from the Latin fabulist and from a soft place, to Wiltwyck, or Wild man's 
village. The Hutch regained the town after its capture along with the 
Swedish possessions east of the Hudson in 1004, holding it, however, only 
for a very short time, as said one of my informants, adding thereto much of' 
the intermediate history till its consolidation with Rondout and Wilbur into 
a city in 187"2, and the building of the splendid new City Hall and Ar- 
mory, the latter only just completed. 

There are many other buildings and several localities of special interest 
to those who love the mild antiquities of our brand-new country — the Acad- 
emy founded in 1774, in which DeWitt Clinton and Thomas DeWitt, Ed- 
ward Livingston, Stephen Van Rensselaer and Abram Van Vechten re- 
ceived their early education ; the stone Court House built in 1818 upon the 
site of a much older one ; and the First Dutch Church, organized August, 
1659, by Rev. Hermanns Blom, sent from Holland as a candidate, and or- 
dained by the Classis of Amsterdam, 1000. The fac-similes of signatures 
of tin' fifteen successors of Blom, carefully gathered by the venerable Dr. 
Hoes, and shown me at the close of our pleasant evening conversation, are 
sufficient guarantee that, from the first, Esopus — Wiltwyck — Kingston has 
been in the care of that blessed people k whose God is the Lord/ ' 

The following letter was sent to the President of the New York Histori- 
cal society, which was published by the Kingston Journal^ and also in the 
History of Ulster County. The following copy thereof was published in the 
Fishkill Standard : 

THE KINGSTON 'SENATE HOUSE." 

The following letter was read at the stated meeting of the New York 
Historical Society, on the first Tuesday of May, 1878, before a learned and 
appreciative audience of ladies and gentlemen. The " Senate House" was 
the centre of attraction at the Kingston Centennial last year. It is owned 
and occupied by Mr. Frederick E. Westbrook, who is a son of the late Rev. 
Dr. Cornelius D. Westbrook, for twenty-five years pastor of the Reformed 
Dutch Church, Fishkill Village, and held in affectionate remembrance by 
manv <*i the older citizens of this town : 



9 

New York, May 3, 1878. 
Hon. Fred. DePeyster, LL. D., President of tiik New York Histo- 
rical Society : 

Respected and Dear Sik : — At the State Centennial held at Kings- 
ton, X. Y., July 30, 1877, the old house owned by myself and known as 
" the Senate House" in the year of its adoption of the first Constitution of 
this State, April, 1777, wherein great interest was manifested by the large 
numbers who thronged its spacious rooms on that memorable occasion, the 
small marble fireplace erected by General Armstrong, father-in-law of the 
iate William B. Astor, Esq., and ex-Secretary of War, who occupied this 
house as his place of residence in 1SH4 and until his departure as Minister 
to the French Court as successor to his brother-in-law, Chancellor Living- 
ston, was particularly noticed. Your records and proceedings of the Ul- 
ster Historical Society recognize this house as the place where the Senate 
of 1777 held its sessions. 

Colonel Wessel Ten Broeck, born in Westphalia in 1635, erected this 
house about the year 1G7<>, was the head of all that bear his honored name 
m this State, intermarried with the Van (iaasbeek family, whose joint de- 
scendants are prominent and numerous. Rev. Laurentius A an Gaasbeek, 
second minister of the Reformed Dutch Church of Wiltwyck, now City of 
Kingston, from 1667 to 1(180, on his death, Colonel Thomas Chambers, 
then owner of the manor of Foxhall, the first prominent settler of Wilt- 
wyck or Esopus, now Kingston, married his widow : and on the death of 
Chambers in 1098, Colonel Wessel Ten Broeck (aforesaid) married the 
widow of Chambers, all prominent in the records of Kingston. Rev. Blom, 
the first minister, settled here in 1600. Chambers, Ten Broeck and Swart- 
wout the scout were prominent in driving out the savages during the In- 
dian massacre of 1003 and the wars which succeeded, in which the illustri- 
ous Petrus Stuyvesant himself took a prominent part. 

With these brief reasons, together with the interest so recently mani- 
fested in hearing the paper read (at last meeting, before a learned, polished 
and large audience), respecting old houses in Kinderhook, induces me to 
offer the society, of which you are its honored head, a photograph, framed, 
of this " old Senate House, 1777." I gave a copy thereof to the authori- 
ties of the City of Kingston, and the other I respectfully offer for your ac- 
ceptance. I remain, dear sir, your friend and obedient servant, 

Frederick E. Westbrook, 

A sketch of this building was published in the Magazine of History, ed- 
ited by John A. Stevens, late librarian of the New York Historical So- 
ciety. A photograph copy thereof is in the work entitled " The Centennial 
Celebrations of the State of New York," published by direction of the Leg- 
islature of the State of New York, under the direction of the Secretary of 
State, at the time of the Centennial, July 30, 1877. There was a splendid 
military procession together with an elegant display of fireworks. This day 
was the one hundredth anniversary of the inauguration of the State govern- 
ment. 



10 

The following article, with illustrations of the Senate House of 1777 ap- 
peared in Harper's Weekly, August, 1877 : 

NEW YORK'S CENTENNIAL. 

The old and picturesque town of Kingston presented a lively appearance 
on .Monday, July 30, when the hundredth anniversary of the inauguration 
of the first Governor of the State of New York and the formation of the 
State government was celebrated. Kingston is peculiarly constructed. 
"The historic portion, or old Kingston," says the correspondent of the New 
York World, " occupies a level plain nearly two miles from the centre of 
the lower portion, which is Rondout. In the upper portion can be found 
the same old houses that the British essayed to burn, at least forty-eight of 
them, which present nearly the same appearance as they did one hundred 
years ago, when General Vaughn's troops burned the burgh. A peculiarity 
has been noticed regarding these old houses — that those of great pretensions 
and considerable dimensions were almost totally destroyed, or burned so as 
to require the relaying of considerable portions of their walls. But the 
smaller houses remained intact, and only required refitting as to their inside 
wood-work, which was of insignificant proportions, and only enough of it to 
really improve by its burning the blue limestone of which the houses were 
constructed. So there are now four dozen old stone houses, with thick 
walls and low roofs, which were baptized by fire and yet remain.'" The 
house in which the New York State Senate met during the year 1777 is still 
standing. It is the property of Mr. Frederick E. Westbrook, a prominent 
citizen of Ulster County. 

Our illustrations on page (i4S show various phases of the celebration. 
The weather was propitious, heavy showers in the morning having laid the 
dust, and light clouds mitigating the heat of the midsummer sun. At noon 
a large procession was formed, composed of military organizations, civic 
societies, trades, firemen, and official bodies. It made a line over a mile 
long, and numbered more than five thousand persons. The procession was 
reviewed by the Mayor ami Common Council of the city, ami paraded 
through the principal streets, passing the interesting historic spots of the 
place, including the old house where the first State Senate met, the house 
where the Constitution was adopted, and the Court Mouse where Governor 
George Clinton was inaugurated one hundred years ago. 

The procession then marched to the grounds where the celebration was 
held. The Mayor of Kingston presided. The ceremonies were opened by 
prayer by the Rev. J. G. Van Slyke, pastor of the First Reformed Dutch 
Church, organized in 1659. .Judge Westbrook then delivered an address 
of welcome, on the conclusion of which the Rev. Dr. J. 0. F. Hoes, a ven- 
erable ex-pastor of the First Reformed Church, read a letter from Rev. Dr. 
Doll, pastor of that church, to Governor Clinton, prefacing it with the 
remark that General Yaughan at first hesitated about destroying the church, 
"but after learning the prominent part its pastor, consistory and member- 
ship had taken in patriotic enterprises, he hesitated no longer, but applied 
the torch to the house of God." In this letter, which is dated August :>, 
1777, Rev. Mr. Doll congratulates the Governor upon his being raised to 
distinguished power, and savs, " All ranks, in placing you at their head,, 
have pledged their lives and fortunes to support and defend you in this exalted 



11 

station, and the consistory of Kingston cheerfully unite in the implicit stip- 
ulation, and promise you their prayers." 

The orator of the day, the Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, was then intro- 
duced. In a very interesting address he sketched the history of the State 
from its formation to the present day. 

The Court House standing in 1777 at Kingston, together with the build- 
ing where the first Constitution was adopted, having been taken down, and 
this Senate House of 1777 being the only building now standing of a 
public character to commemmorate events of the Revolution, causes this 
ancient building, together with Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh, 
to become by far the most important public buildings as relics now standing 
in this State. 

Holland, in the 17th century, was the most prosperous commercial state 
in Europe, the principal corporation the Dutch East India Company ; under 
its auspices the Hudson River was discovered and explored in 1609 as far 
as what is now known as Albany, N. Y. ; their flag was hoisted on Man- 
hattan Island in 1613 ; a few huts were erected for the purpose of trading 
with the Indians. A few traders as early as 16 14 found their way to what 
was afterwards known as Fort Orange (now Albany) and at Wiltwyck (now 
Kingston). A few years subsequent Fort Orange (now Albany) was built, 
and a fort at the mouth of the Rondout, Atkarkarton (now Kingston). 

In 1621 the Dutch West India Company was formed, with the exclusive 
right to trade on both coasts of America. The province of New Nether- 
lands fell under the control of this corporation and its actual settlement was 
commenced. 

In 1624 Peter Minneck was sent out from Amsterdam as Governor of the 
Colony, and brought over with him some French colonists, who were in 
reality the first settled inhabitants of New Netherlands ; the few emigrants 
or traders with the Indians who preceded them were not entitled to the 
name of settlers. Shortly afterwards the Indian title to Manhattan Island 
was purchased by Kieft for about $24. A block house was erected at its 
southern extremity which was called Fort Amsterdam. 

In 1629 a more extensive colonization was organized in Holland and 
ratified by the States General, conditioned that any member of the com- 
pany who would emigrate fifty persons upwards of fifteen years should be- 
come absolute possessor of a colony sixteen miles in extent along the shore 
or navigable river. He was to reign like a Feudel Lord under the title of 
Datroon, but the settlers were allowed as much land as they could cultivate 
and freedom from taxation for ten years. It was stipulated that the lands 
should be first purchased from the Indians, as the lawful and original owners 
of the land. 



12 



Thomas Chambers brought a small number of families in 1652 and began 
the actual settlement of Ulster County. Rev. Mr. Miller was sent to New 
Amsterdam as a Missionary by the Episcopal Church of England; as they 
had no church building he occasionally preached in the Dutch Church 
erected in the fort at New Amsterdam in 1642. 

On his return he published in London, in 1695, Miller's History of New 
York in which were plans of three places of strength, New Amsterdam 
(now .New York), Fort Orange (now Albany), and at Esopus (now Kingston). 
They continued to be the three most important places till the year Kingston 
was burned, 1777.. Kingston was laid out, and the title was obtained from 
the savages and presented to Stuyvesant. Constant difficulties and loss of 
life occurred with the ravages until after the massacre of Wiltwyck in 1663 
Dominie Blom, the first minister settled in 1660, has related the facts rela- 
tive to this awful event. A charter was obtained May 16, 1661, municipal 
power granted to Wiltwyck, Pell, Sleight and Roosa were appointed schopens, 
and RoehffSwartwout, Sheriff. Captain Thomas Chambers, Justice at Esopus, 
for signal services in the time of the Indian war, his house was erected into 
Manor of Foxhall. This Manor House was, without doubt, at what is now 
known as Rondout, on the site of Mr. Jansen Hasbrouck's grounds • beino- 
a prominent man and of great wealth for that period, he might subsequently 
had h,s residence elsewhere. With all his temporal honors, having no 
children, Ins second wife was the widow of Rev. Laurentius Van Gaasbeek 
whose son assumed the name of Abraham Van Gaasbeek Chambers, who 
became sole heir to the Manor of Foxhall on the death of his step-father 
Thomas Chambers, in 1696. The widow of Chambers thereupon married 
the said Col. Wessel TenBroeck, the then owner of the building now known 
as the Senate House of the State of New York, 1777. 

William Beekman, the great-ancester of those who bear his name, was 
Sheriff of Kingston until the close of Governor Lovelace's administration in 
16/4, when he returned to New York. He was born in Germany, emigrated 
to America: after filling many official positions and in possession of great 
wealth he died in 1707 with distinguished reputation. The present William 
and Beekman streets, New York, bear his name. Henry, his eldest son, 
■settled at Kingston, was Judge of Ulster County and member of the Pro- 
vincial Legislature. His daughter Margaret married Robert R. Living- 
ston, and among her children was Jane, wife of General Montgomery, who 
fell at the seige of Quebec. Chancellor Robert R. Livingston and his sister 
who married General John Armstrong, U. S. Senator, Secretary of War] 
&c, occupied the building now known as the Senate House in 1802 and 
until he left as Minister to France. 

The English Conquest commenced in 1664: Nichols assumed the gov- 
ernment as Deputy Governor under the Duke of York of all his territories 
in America. 



13 

New Amsterdam was now called New York in honor of the Duke of 
York, and Fort Orange, Albany. At this time the Dutch inhabitants in the 
colony numbered about 0,000. New Amsterdam contained 3,000, nearly 
one-half of that number. After the conquest by the English many returned 
to Holland. 

Their habitations, however, were soon occupied by emigrants partly from 
Great Britain, but mostly from New England. Upon the Hudson River 
were many Dutch settlers who remained. 

Colonel Lovelace succeeded Nichols in the government of the colony. 

Kingston, formerly known as Atkarkarton, Wiltwyck and Esopus, had a 
few settlers who located among the Esopus Indians in 1014. 

Rev. J. Megapolensis, third minister of the Collegiate Dutch Church of 
New York, in a letter on the state of religion in the province of New York, 
to the classes of Amsterdam, dated August 5, 1057, says : " Thomas Cham- 
bers and a few others removed to Atkarkarton, or Esopus (now Kingston), 
an exceedingly beautiful land, in 1(552, and began the actual settlement of 
Ulster county ; it was also known among the savages as the Pleasant Land." 

From the date of the first settling of this place, the following are the 
names of the Director-Generals of the Province of New York, sent out from 
Holland : Andrisen Jores, whose administration commenced in 1023 ; Cor- 
nelius Jacobsen May, William Yerhulst, Peter Minuit, under whose admin- 
istration, in 1020, Manhattan Island (New York) was purchased from the 
Indians for $24. Then follow Wouter Van Twiller, William Kieft, and 
last the valiant, energetic, able and faithful Petrus Stuyvesant, whose ad- 
ministration commenced May 11, 1047, in whom the early settlers of Kings- 
ton, long harrassed by the savages, found a powerful friend. 

The wars with the Indians and negotiations and troubles with his English 
neighbors continued till New Amsterdam surrendered to the English in 
1004, when Stuyvesant (released from the vexations and turmoils of public 
life), after visiting Holland, returned to New York and spent the rest of his 
days in retirement on his " Bowerie," where he departed bis useful life in 
1071 . 

General military officers for the colonies appointed by Congress June, 
1775: 

George Washington, Commander-in-Chief; Artemus Ward, Charles Lee, 
Philip Schuyler and Israel Putnam were appointed Major-Generals ; Seth 
Pomeroy, Richard Montgomery, David Wooster, William Heath, Joseph 
Spencer, John Thomas, John Sullivan and Nathaniel Green were appointed 
Brigadier-Generals, and Horatio Gates, Adjutant-General. 

The revolutionary authority in New York was exercised by a Provincial 
Convention assembled in the Exchange, New York city, April 20, 1775. 



14 

Charles DeWitt, George Clinton and Levi Paulding were delegates from 
Ulster County. 

Members from this county in the subsequent First Provincial Congress, 
which met at New York May 23, 1775, were Colonel Charles Hardenbergh, 
of Rosendale, Colonel James Clinton, Egbert Dumont, of Kingston, Charles 
Clinton, Christopher Tappen, of Kingston, John Nicholson and Jacob Horn- 
beck, of Rochester. 

Second Provincial Congress met at New York November 14, 1775. 
Members from this county were Henry Wisner, Jr., Matthew Rea, Dirck 
Wynkoop, Jr., Matthew Cantine, Andries DeWitt, Andries Lefevre, Thomas 
Palmer and Samuel Brewster. 

Third Provincial Congress met at New York May 14, 1776. Members 
from Ulster were Colonel Charles DeWitt, Colonel Abraham Hasbrouck, 
Colonel James Snyder, Matthew Cantine, Matthew Rea, Arthur Park, 
Henry Wisner, Jr., and Samuel Brewster. 

Fourth Provincial Congress assembled at White Plains, in Westchester 
County, July 9, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was immedi- 
ately adopted, and on the following day the name of the house was changed 
to that of the " Convention of the Representatives of the State of New 
York." Members from Ulster were Matthew Cantine, Colonel Charles De- 
Witt, Major Arthur Parks, Colonel Levi Paulding, Matthew Rea, Christo- 
pher Tappen, Colonol Johannes Hardenbergh and Henry Wisner, Jr. 

Convention adjourned to Fishkill August 20, 1776. From there it moved 
to Kingston, Ulster County, N. Y., where a committee was appointed, of 
which John Jay was chairman, to report the draft of a Constitution. After 
discussion the report of the committee was accepted, and the first Constitu- 
tion of the State of New York was adopted on the 20th of April, 1777, and 
was proclaimed at the Court House at Kingston at 11 o'clock A. M. on the 
22d of April, 1777, and on the 13th of May, 1777, the convention adjourned, 
leaving power in the hands of a Council of Safety. 

The first election under the constitution was held July 30, 1777. George 
Clinton was declared. Governor of the State of New York in the presence of 
the military and citizens assembled at Kingston. 

Among other important events of the eventful year 1777 was the sacking 
and burning of Kingston by the British forces under General Yaughan, 
known in history as Vaughan's second expedition. A paper prepared by 
Hon. George W. Pratt was read before the Ulster Historical Society rela- 
tive to the event on the 16th of October, ISliO, being the 83d anniversary 
of its burning. This eminent man fell early in life, in public service (in 
the late war), universally lamented and respected, and if his life had been 
spared this important society would still be in operation, in accordance with 
the wish (as expressed to the writer) of its late honored president, Abraham 



Bruyn Hasbrouck. It is to be hoped that his desire will be complied with 
and this important society soon reorganized and continue its valuable ser- 
vices. 

The writer will sketch a few of the prominent men of Ulster County in 
the service under the Colonial and State Governments, distinguished in the 
annals of Ulster County : 

Robert Ii. Livingston was appointed Chancellor of the State : John Jay, 
Chief Justice, and Robert Gales and John Sloss Hobert, Associate Justices 
of the Supreme Court ; John Mann, Secretary of State : Egbert Benson, 
Attorney-General, and Comfort Sands, Adjutant-General. 

Governor Clinton married Cornelia Tappen, sister of Christopher Tappen, 
of Kingston. He was born July 20, 1730, and departed this life full of 
years and full of honors, at Washington City, on the '20th of April, 1812. 

John Jay was born in the city of New York December 12, 1745 ; married 
Sarah, daughter of William Livingston: lie was the alleged author of the 
first constitution of the State of New York, appointed under it Chief Justice 
of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. The first term thereof 
was held at Kingston, N. Y., September 9th, 1777. He was afterwards 
appointed by President Washington Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of 
the United States, and subsequently elected Governor of the State of New 
York. This learned and accomplished man (of Huguenot descent) died at 
Bedford May 17, 1829. He left the example of a well spent life, an un- 
spotted name, and his illustrious services will always hold an important, 
place in the history of his native State. 

Col. Johannes Hardenbergh, son of the patentee of the Ilardenbergh 
Patent, was a member of the Colonial Assembly from 1737 to 1743, and of 
the State Legislature in 1781-2. Departed this life August 29, 1786, 
aged 80 years : a true friend of church and State. When General Wash- 
ington visited Ulster county, June, 17*3, Colonel Hardenbergh entertained 
Mrs. Washington, with Governorand Mrs. Clinton, at his house in Rosen- 
dale. 

Egbert Dumont, Sheriff of Ulster county under George III. of England, 
from 1771 to 1773 : from the first he espoused the cause of the Revolution, 
and was a deputy in the Provincial Congress which met in May, 1775. He 
was again Sheriff from 1775 to 1781, and from 17*S to 1789. Promihent 
in public affairs. 

Col. Levi Paulding, of Marbletown, appointed Colonel of the Ulster 
County Militia from October 25, 1775, to July, 1770. Subsequently del- 
egate to the Provincial Convention, 177-> . also of Congresses of 1776 and 
1777. Appointed first Judge of the county of Ulster May, 1777, and held 
the office till his death, in 1782. 

Cornelius C. Schoonmaker, of Shawangunk, was Member of Assembly 



16 

nearly seven years, from 1777 to 1795; from 1701 t < > 1 T * > • i Member of 
Congress; was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 177 s . He 
died in 1790. Hon. Marius Schoonmaker was his grandson. 

Jacob Hornbeck, of Rochester, appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of Pauld- 
ing's regiment, chairman of the Rochester Committee of Safety, and in 177;" 
a deputy of the first Provincial Congress. Died 1778, and buried at 
Rochester, Ulster county. 

Captain Tjerck Beekman was an officer of the Revolution and an original 
member of the Society of Cincinnati. Died at Kingston December 25 , 
1791. He was father of the late Sarah, wife of Rev. Dr. C. D. Westbrook, 
deceased, died about the year 1793. His grand son John Westbrook is the 
present member of the Society of Cincinnati. 

Colonel Abraham Hasbrouck, son of Joseph, and grandson of Abraham. 
Hasbrouck, one of the twelve proprietors of the New Paltz Patent, was 
born in 1707 near New Paltz ; in 1735 he removed to Kingston. On the 
5th of January, 1738, he married Catharine, daughter of Jacobus Bruyn, 
of Shawangunk. In 1737 was Colonel of Ulster County Militia ; member 
of the Colonial Assembly, 1739 to 1745, and from 1759 to 1768. After a life 
of prominence in his country's service, he departed this life November 1 1', 
1791, and was buried with military honors at Kingston. 

A younger brother, Colonel Jonathan Hasbrouck, of this period, resided 
in the house commonly called Washington's Headquarters, at Newburgh, 
He was born about the year 17'22 ; married Tryntje (Catharine), daughter 
of Cornelius BuBois, and shortly after removed to Newburgh, where he 
continued till his death, July 31, 1780. Col. Hasbrouck enlarged the 
house at Newburgh well-known as " Washington's Headquarters," and it 
remained in the possession of the family nearly a century, till it became the 
property of the State and cared for by the Trustees of the village of New- 
burgh. 

After Governor Clinton the most prominent man in Clster county was 
Charles DeWitt, of Greenkill. Before the Colonies separated from Great 
Britain he represented the county in the Colonial Assembly from 1768 to 
1775 ; resolute and patriotic ; was a member of the Provincial Assembly in 
1775, and subsequent Congresses, and also on the Committee of Safety, 
appointed Colonel in 1775. He was a member of the convention appointed 
to draft a Constitution adopted 1777. In 1784 he was chosen a delegate to 
Congress. From 1781 to 1785 he was a Member of Assembly, till his 
death, April 27, 1787. 

General Frederick Westbrook was an officer of the Revolution of 1770, 
and a Brigadier-General in the war of 1812. Horn at Rochester, Ulster 
county, N. Y. ; he married Sarah Depew. He was a true patriot in the 
cause of his country, and departed this life after a lingering illness at the 



17 

residence of his son, Rev. Dr. C. D. Westbrook, at Fishkill, N. V., 1823, 
in the 74th year of his age. 

Rev. Dr. Cornelius D. Westbrook was the last of the eminent men who 
lived in and departed this life in the Senate House of 1777, and therefore a 
brief notice of him will be given. He was born at Rochester, Ulster county, 
N. Y., May 8, 1782, and was the only child of General Frederick Westbrook 
and Sarah Depew his wife. Gen. Westbrook was an officer of the Revolution 
of 1770 and of the war of 1812, of Anglo-Saxon and Huguenot ancestry. An 
extended history of Dr. Westbrook's life appears in Rev. Dr. Corwin's His- 
tory of the Dutch Church, and in the History of Ulster county ; also an 
interesting sketch of his life from the pen of Rev. Dr. C. Van Santvoord, of 
Kingston. Dr. Westbrook departed this life at Kingston, N. Y., March, 
1858. Many resolutions were passed relative to his life and services, of 
which the following only will be inserted : 

At a meeting of the South Chassis of New York City, held April 20, 
1858, it was 

Reso/vpd, That the stated clerk be requested to forward to the family of 
the late Rev. Dr. Westbrook the following tribute to his memory : 

" After a long, active and useful life, Rev. Cornelius 1). Westbrook, D. 
" D., for many years a member of this Classis, a Father in Israel and a 
" veteran in the camp of Christ, has been gathered to his Fathers iu peace 
" and in honour : in him all the best purposes in the life of man have been 
" accomplished, and he came to the grave in full age, like as a shock of 
" corn cometh in his season." 

The only members which composed the Rev. Dr. Westbrook's family who 
resided at his late residence at the Senate House were his widow Sarah 
Beekman, and her devoted daughter Mary, afterwards the wife of James L. 
Van Deusen, Esq. 

Severyn Bruyn was born at Esopus (now Kingston) May '25, 1726, and 
departed this life at Kingston, August 19, 1759. He married Catharine 
TenBroeck, grand-daughter of Col. Wessel TenBroeck. He was an eminent 
citizen. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Jacobus Severyn Bruyn, his son, was born at Kings- 
ton, N. Y., October 27, 1751. He served as an officer in our Revolutionary 
struggle and was an original member of the Society of Cincinnati. He 
married Miss Blandina Klmendorf, of Kingston, who was eminent for her 
intellectual attainments. Two sons were their only descendants, Edward 
and Severyn. Col. Bruyn departed this life at Kingston July 12,1825. 
He was distinguished as an officer and for his great services during the war : 
he afterwards served with distinction in the councils of the State. 

Severyn Bruyn, his son, married Catharine Hasbrouck, daughter of Judge 

Jonathan Hasbrouck. He was a gentleman by nature and education, be- 
•) 



is 

loved in every circle which he honored. After a few years spent in the 
practice of the law he accepted the position of cashier of a bank ; when his 
services were ended he retired from business. He was a true patriot, a scholar, 
and a Christian gentleman. He departed this life in peace, and left the 
presence of his family and friends, by whom he was greatly beloved, and 
with the affectionate regrets of the entire community where he resided, Oc- 
tober 27, L856, leaving two children, Augustus Hasbrouck Bruyn, Esq., 
and 'the late Mrs. Mary Bruyn Forsyth. 

Hon. Abraham Bruyn Hasbrouck, LL. P., a prominent lawyer of Kings- 
ton, sou of Judge Jonathan Hasbrouck, was Member of Congress, and for 
ten years President of Rutger's College. He was the recipient of honors, 
bestowed by the synod of the oldest church in the State, the Reformed 
Dutch Church in America, assembled at Kingston a few years ago. At an 
appointed hour, by previous arrangement, this learned body received Mr. 
Hasbrouck, standing : a speech was delivered by its President on this occa- 
sion, which was replied to by Mr. Hasbrouck in a learned and dignified 
address befitting so important an occasion. No greater honor could be be- 
stowed. He departed this life in peace and in honor at Kingston, N. Y., 
February 23, 1879. 

Hon. Lucas Elmendorf, one of Kingston's most honored sons, was pos- 
sessed of a brilliant intellect, well read in the law and in the routine of its 
practice, especially relating to titles of real estate in Ulster county, which 
fifty years ago enlisted and occupied the attention of the most eminent minds 
in the State ; his learning and counsel in their investigations was of great 
service. The writer believes too little has been said of this great man. As 
a statesman, his broad and liberal views at this period were felt and acknowl- 
edged in the National and State councils. His influence, without doubt, 
contributed largely to the appointment of Professor Henry to be the head 
of Smithsonian Institute at Washington. I have before me copy of a letter 
written by Professor Henry, dated September 22, 1876, in answer to an ap- 
plication made by the Hon Win. Coventry II. Waddell in behalf of Misses 
Julia and Nellie, daughters of the late Nicholas Elmendorf, of Kingston, 
for a photograph of the Professor, who was the distinguished friend of their 
grandfather, Hon. Lucas Elmendorf, and was associated with him in the 
survey, &c, of the old Lucas Turnpike road. Professor Henry, in his re- 
ply, sending his photograph, says : " I should take special interest in visit- 
ing again the mansion of your grand old relative, Judge Lucas Elmendorf. 
His stately form and expressive countenance is now before me, and I have 
never recalled him to recollection but with feelings of gratitude, admiration 
and respect. We formed on a short acquaintance a warm friendship, which 
continued during life. He did me the favor, unsolicited, to exert an influ- 
ence in my advancement in life." This is the language of that great man, 



19 

Professor Henry, of Smithsonian Institute. The offices held by Judge 
Lucas Elinendorf are as follows : He was Member of Congress from 1797 to 
1803 ; Member of Assembly, 1804 ; District Attorney from 1801 to 1811 : 
Regent of the University from 1805 to 1829 : State Senator from 181(5 to 
1817 ; County Judge from IS 18 to 1821 ; Surrogate of Ulster County from 
1835 to 1840. He departed this life in the year 1843 at Albany, with 
the regrets of his family, the community, and the State to which he con- 
tributed his eminent services for their welfare and happiness. 

Hon. Charles H. Ruggles was Vice-Chancellor Circuit Judge of the Su- 
preme Court of the State of New York, appointed in 1831. He was elected 
Judge of the Court of Appeals in 1847. He was an uncle of Hon. Theod- 
oric R. Westbrook, Judge of the Supreme Court of New York. His char- 
acter was exalted as a man and as a jurist. He died with distinguished 
reputation about the year 1875. 

Jacob Burhans, son of Cornelius and Maria (TenBroeck) Burhans, was 
born August 30, 1792. In the year 181(5 he became a clerk for his uncle, 
Jacob TenBroeck (a descendant of Col. Wessel TenBroeck, the elder), and 
subsequently was clerk to Judge Jonathan Hasbrouck. He commenced 
business as a merchant for himself in 1820 and continued till 1840, when 
ill health caused him to retire from active duties as a merchant. He con- 
tributed to organize four banks in Kingston, and was the first President of 
the State of New York Bank ; was a prominent member and officer of the 
First Reformed Dutch Church of Kingston ; was for many years a trustee 
of the Kingston Academy, and was deeply interested in the cause of educa- 
tion. The delineations of the countenance of this good man inspired re- 
spect. The writer in his youthful days saw him frequently in the church 
he so faithfully served and was fascinated with his dignified, mild and 
placid countenance, indicative of the man, and left an impression on his 
boyish mind that the lapse of time has never been able to efface from his 
memory. He had eight children, two of whom, Cornelius and John Salis- 
bury Burhans, are well-known merchants, and one of his daughters married 
Hon. Frederick L. Westbrook, all of this city. This true Christian left the 
presence of his numerous relatives with their painful regrets, and this com- 
munity joined with them in sorrow for their loss and respect for his precious 
memory. He departed in peace and in honor, and rested in cheerful an- 
ticipation of a happy immortal life. He has left his friends the example of 
such a life and the glory of such a death. 

A brief sketch of the noble race of men will now be given who so power- 
fully contributed in the stormy period of our Revolutionary struggle, who 
have long since passed away, their achievements on the field or in the coun- 
cils of the Colony and State, their heroic endurance from savage and Chris- 
tian foes — -who have by their stately deeds laid broad and deep the ^founda- 



20 

tions of our civil and religious institutions, which should be held in sacred 
remembrance. 

Of our Dutch ancestry in lister county, a few are said to have come here 
to trade with the Esopus Indians as early as 1014. New Amsterdam (now 
New York) and Fort Orange (now Albany) had a few settlers about the 
same period ; they were traders with the Indians. Settlements were not 
formed until several years subsequent. In 1695 Miller's History of New 
York was published in London : there were in it plans of three places of 
strength, New York, Albany and Kingston, which continued to be the three 
most important places till 1777. The Dutch ancestry in Ulster county 
during the greater part of the 17th century were predominant in numbers 
and influence. By inter-marriages with the Huguenot emigrants and others 
who fraternized with the Dutch and finally adopted their religion as well as 
their customs, the line of descent between the Dutch and Huguenots 
branched out, and the spirit of the Dutch character was blended in common 
suffering with savage and Christian foes, and had a tendency to increase the 
bond of friendship, and was attended with most beneficial results. 

The character of the Dutch has been conservative, steadfastly adhering to 
the church of their fathers, living in peace and concord with other denom- 
inations. The history of our State shows their spirit of patriotism, adher- 
ance to popular rights and civil liberty throughout the Colonial annal and 
Revolutionary struggle. The tribute paid them by that eminent jurist, 
Chancellor Kent, in his address before the New York Historical Society, 
New York, in 1828, will be found characteristic and true. 

The Dutch discoverers of New Netherlands were grave, temperate, firm, 
persevering men, who brought with them the industry, the economy, the 
simplicity, the integrity and the bravery of their Belgic sires, and with 
those virtues they also imported the lights of the Roman civil law and the 
purity of the Protestant faith. To that period we are to look with chastened 
awe and respect for the beginning of our city and the works of our primitive 
fathers. 

American citizens can never forget the heroic struggle for freedom in 
Kngland during the period which constituted the transition state from the 
oppression of the Tudors and Stewarts to the constitutional liberty which 
they enjoyed under the Commonwealth of England. The close sympathy 
which was felt by our pilgrim ancestors, Elliot, Hampden, Milton, Vane 
and Pym, in that struggle against the alleged tyrannical reign of Charles I., 

the protectorate of Cr well during the Commonwealth of England, the 

apparent freedom England then enjoyed, was probably the origin of our 
national existence, and which planted the institutions of piety and learning 
on the shores of America. The history of that great man Cromwell, who 
refused the Crown of England, has yet to be written. The Puritans who 



21 

emigrated to America were the conservators of civil and religious freedom. 

The English are an aggressive race ; they descended from the Saxons, or 
more properly speaking, were conquered by the warlike Teutonic tribe, in- 
habitants of the north-western part of Germany, near the shores of the Bal- 
tic. There is reason to believe that the Saxon had formed small colonies 
there about the same period, and from their intermixture is derived the 
Anglo-Saxon as applied to the Teutonic race which settled in the southern 
part of Britain. England is only an abbreviation of Anglo-land or the land 
of the Angles, by which subsequently the country became known in this 
early and rude period of England's history. 

About two centuries ago many of the Anglo-Saxons emigrated to Ulster 
•county. They were loyal to the Crown until the Revolutionary struggle, 
when they revolted against her arbitrary and unjust course and espoused 
the cause of their adopted country against oppression, and aided and con- 
tributed to the independence of these United States. 

Henry IV. of France issued the edict of Nantes for the protection of the 
Huguenots, both politically and religiously in 1598. 

The Huguenots were the artizans of France. The revocation of the edict 
of Nantes by Louis XIV, in 168o, the ordinary workmen, who were accus- 
tomed to work under the direction of the Huguenots, on their expulsion, 
caused by the persecutions they encountered, laid the blame of their 
•expulsion on the clergy, which caused their starving condition, having 
no work nor means for support. Then commenced a series of persecu- 
tions against all priests, both Catholic and Protestant, the Bible and its 
teachings, and all religions were banished from France ; Atheism prevailed. 
Then followed a frightful scene of disorder, which was then enacted and 
continued. Robespiere and his followers continued to decapitate the no- 
bles, richer land holders, and then selections were made for victims among 
the small land holders. Finally they were made among the Commonalty 
and then commenced the cry, Down with the tyrant Robespiere, and he met 
an awful death. During the progress of the French revolution, which con- 
tinued and was brought about by those disorders resulting principally 
from the effects of the expulsion of the Huguenots, and the results arising 
from the banishment of the Bible and the overthrow of all religion, and per- 
secution of the priests of all denominations, anarchy followed. 

The writer's conclusion from history is that no Republic can stand or 
continue without the Bible and the Christian religion. If Atheists were 
the friends of the State they would recommend the Bible and its teachings 
as essential for the maintenance and support of any free government. The 
French revolution, of 178!) to 1794, and its awful results, demonstrated most 
clearly this established fact. The human mind is so constituted, particularly 
at a period when age causes man to see the necessity of religion of some kind 



22 

as the only satisfactory solace when the world is receding from their view. 
The result in revolutionary France was that order was not restored until 
the collossal power obtained by'the conquering sword of Napoleon Bona- 
parte, who was then swaying the destinies of France, restored the Christian 
religion and the Bible and its teachings. As a necessary result order and 
law were again triumphant. This great man knew that such a restoration 
was necessary for his ambitious aspirations, as he was about ascending the 
steps of an imperial throne. 

After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, in 1685, this skillful people, 
who carried on nearly all the manufactures of France, found that their 
liberties, one after another, were wrested from them, their clergy were for- 
bidden to preach, their teachers to give instruction excepting in writing and 
arithmetic. Public office and the professions were shut against them and 
they lost the shelter of the laws. Regiments of Dragoons hunted them 
down. All this caused the last drop in their cup of bitterness. Shaking 
the dust of France forever from their feet, 600,000 Huguenots fled with 
brave hearts and skillful hands to England, Holland and Germany, where 
they were joyfully received. Many emigrated from Holland to America, 
where they were received with open arms, and ultimately melted in the 
general blood of America, who reaped the benefit arising from the manu- 
facturing skill and general intelligence of these Huguenot refugees. 

It is a remarkable fact that about the same period William . Penn, the 
purest and most honest among rulers, was rendering his name forever illus- 
trious by establishing in America a refuge for the oppressed from the 
storms of persecution, and obtained from Charles II. of England a patent to 
form a settlement in the New World, where the Society of Friends and 
others might be unmolested, in the Colony of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia. 
Louis XIV., one of the most gorgeous and heartless of sovereigns, and one 
of the most powerful of French monarchs, was about the same period deliv- 
ering up 300,000 families of his Protestant subjects, the artizans of France, 
to the atrocious tyranny of the fanatical Le Tellier and the sanguinary 
Louvois. Louis' great blunder, as a statesman, was his treatment of 
the Huguenots ; they were the most moral, industrious and intelligent of 
the French population, and when they wore expelled from their native land 
they enriched England, Holland, Germany and America with the commerce 
and arts of Prance. 

Ascending the Hudson the Huguenots landed at Wiltwyck (now Kings- 
ton), and were welcomed by the Hutch settlers, who had prepared the way 
in the then wilderness for their enjoyment of civil and religious privileges. 
The region selected by the Huguenots for their future abode was like their 
own delightful France. It wanted the culture and improvements of the 
former, but the picturesque and the sublime in nature appeared on everj 



23 

side. Running streams, verdant lawns, bills, and woods charmed the eye. 
Toward the east the charming prospect was bounded by the noble and ever 

rolling Hudson. The lofty Catskills delighted their vision while at Kings- 
ton, where they remained about fifteen years before leaving for New Paltz, 
about 1683, where they remained as their final resting place. The Shawan- 
gunk and the Fishkill range of mountains gave additional beauty to the 
scene. The Rosendale begins its course far in the interior, and uniting 
with the Wallkiil then rapidly passes on till it unites with the Hudson. So 
with the Esopus creek ; its source is among the mountains of the Delaware, 
whence it rushes furiously onward until it readies Marbletown ; from thence 
it runs northerly until it mingles with the Hudson at Saugerties, I liter 
county. About twenty families remained at Kingston. The Dutch and 
French Huguenots followed these noble streams. Their descendants now 
enjoy the rich and glorious patrimony secured by the industry, frugality and 
piety of their ancestors. 

The county of Ulster is considerably broken by those lofty monarchs of 
the Hudson, the Catskills. Numerous little streams and creeks enrich this 
beautiful region not far from Kingston. New Paltz being the principal 
homes of these Huguenots a patent was obtained for the lands from Colonial 
Governor Andros ; they selected twelve of their brethern as the patentees, 
who are known by the appellation of the twelve patentees. A list of the 
original purchasers were: Louis DuBois, Christian Deyo, Abraham Has- 
brouck, Andres Lefevre, John Brook (said to have been changed to Has- 
brouck), Peter Dean (or Deyo), Louis Bevier, Anthony Crispell, Abraham 
DuBois, Hugh Freer, Isaac DuBois, Simon Lefevre. 

A copy of this treaty with the Indians exists, ami was executed May 2 . 
1 *i77. They were three days on their journey from Kingston to New 
Paltz. Soon, however, they selected a more elevated site upon the banks 
of the beautiful Wallkiil, where the ancient village now stands. Kingston 
was then their only trading village. 

The French church, of which Louis DuBois was the first elder, was estab- 
lished in 1683. For 50 years the language they used was French ; subse- 
quently for 7" years succeeded by the Low Dutch : since the beginning of 
the 19th century English has been their church vernacular. 

Rev. Mr. Dallie, from New York, visited New Paltz January 26, 1683, 
and occasionally conducted services for them. Their then house of worship 
was a stone edifice, where they worshipped 8 > years, when it was demolished 
in IS:.',). The Huguenots finally by intermarriages and intercourse with the 
Dutch adopted their language, manners and customs, and finally gave up 
their French church and accepted and joined with the Reformed Dutch de- 
nomination, and worshipped with the Dutch in the same church edifice. 

The Irish settled in Esopus (now Kingston) at an early period ; mam of 



24 

them were men of wealth and standing. This useful class of citizens, many 
of whom are connected with the public works, are engaged in the stone, lime, 
cement, real estate and railroad employments. They are generous-hearted 
and impulsive. As men of toil they have been of vast service in developing 
the resources of this county (the writer is speaking of them only as inhabitants 
of Ulster county), whose chief city is Kingstou. They have advanced this 
count}' by their efforts in peace and in war ; they are always ready to fight, 
the battles of our country, and are loyal and ready to protect its flag — the 
emblem of its power— against any daring invader, and to support and pro- 
tect the interests and independence of our country. 

The writer states that he has endeavored to give short sketches of the 
lives of the most prominent men of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries 
and only a few of a later period : the limits of the work prevent him from 
including many others. 

The history of the First Reformed Dutch Church of Kingston, organized 
in 1659 — first clergyman called was Rev. Harmanus Blom, who commenced 
this pastorate September, 1660 — is so full of interest a brief statement there- 
of will be inserted. Its several pastors in the order of succession from 1659 
to 18^3 are as follows : Laurentius Van Gaasbeek, successor to Blom, from 
1667 to 1680 ; then follow Johannes Weekstein, Laurentius Van der Bock, 
I. P. Nucella, Francis L. Beys, Peter Vas, George Wilhelm Mancius, Dr. 
Harmanus Meyer, Dr. George I. L. Doll, the last of the Dutch ministers 
educated in the Universities of Holland : this eminent man's pastorate 
commenced in the year 1775 and continued till the year 1808. During the 
troublesome and stormy period of the American Revolution his heroic bear- 
ing and patriotic services rendered in support of the new State of New 
York and its first illustrious Governor, George Clinton, are recorded in his- 
tory, which perpetuates the memory of this eminent divine. 

Dr. John Gossman was the successor of Rev. Dr. Doll ; then follow Dr. 
John Lillie, I. W. Van Wagonen, Dr. John C. F. Hoes, Dr. D. W. Van- 
derveer, and the present pastor, Dr. J. G. Van Slyke. 

Rev. Dr. .John Gossman was born February 10, 1 7 s 4 , and was called to 
this church in the year 1 80S : his pastorate continued till about the year 
1835. He was distinguished as an eminent divine, possessed of a powerful, 
rich and melodious voice, and was one of the most popular preachers of his 
day. lie departed this life December 8, 18(55. 

Rev. Dr. .John C. F. Hoes, born in 1811, was called to this church in 
1^1.") ; his pastorate continued for 21 years, till the year 1866, when he re- 
signed, and continued to reside in Kingston till his death, distinguished as 
a sound and able dominie, dignified in his deportment, honest and unflinch- 
ing in discharging the duties of his high calling. He officiated for neigh- 



25 

boring congregations frequently till his death with great acceptance in the 
county where he so long resided. His valuable paper read by him at the 
Kingston Centennial, July 30, 1877, relative to the venerable church where 
he so long officiated as pastor, correspondence of Dr. Doll with Governor 
Clinton in 1777, relative to the destruction of the church building standing 
in that year, his fac simile furnished of the signatures of all the ministers of 
this church from Rev. Mr. Bloni to and including Dr. Van Slyke, all set 
forth in the history of Ulster county, are valuable contributions which every 
friend of the church ought to preserve. 

He suddenly left the oresence of his family and numerous friends, who 
deeply mourned their loss, at Kingston, about June, 1883. The community 
where he so long resided hearing of his sudden departure, joined his afflicted 
family and friends in sorrow for their loss and respect for his memory. His 
widow and two daughters and only son Rev. Randall Hoes, chaplain in the 
U. S. Navy, constitute his surviving family. 

An interesting sketch of the First Reformed Dutch Church at Kingston, 
N. Y., which is copied from the December number of the Magazine of the 
Reformed Dutch Church, published in the year 1826, more than 56 years 
ago, as follows : 

[For the Dutch Church Maaaziiie.] 

KINGSTON CHURCH, 1826. 

The village of Kingston had a settled minister as early as the year 1662 ; 
being more than forty-eight years after the first landing here, of the emi- 
grants from Holland. The hamlet at that time was called Wildwyck, or 
Indian district ; and afterward Esopus. The first clergyman was the Rev. 
Hermanus Blom, whose accounts for salary, all payable in wheat, are pre- 
served to this day, in the county records. He preached in a log hut, on 
the site of the present building. Yet, even in that rude edifice reared by 
the piety of our ancestors, God condescended to meet and to bless us. The 
second Church building was in the ancient style ornamented with highly 
coloured, painted, and burnt window glass, bearing the coat of arms of our 
progenitors from Yanderland. The third was a larger building, erected in 
1752, as appears by the names of the workmen, and the year of their la- 
bours, cut in hewn stone, and masoned into the front wall of the present 
building. The fourth and last structure is of blue limestone, with a lofty 
tower of the same materials, in which hangs a Holland bell, imported from 
Amsterdam in 1794 : which measures seven feet six inches in circumference 
at its mouth ; is two feet two inches in height, and is remarkable for its 
clear and deep-toned peals. This was the first bell that ever tolled here for 
a funeral ; the previous usage having been to ring the bell on such occa- 
sions. It was also the practice before this time to ring the bell three times 
a day by way of notice, to tidy house-keepers, of their breakfast, dinner and 
supper hours. 

At present the town clock regulates the kitchen. The bell was also 
formerly rung whenever there was a baptism, or a christening as it was 



26 

called : and then the minister, with an elder, and whoever else pleased, went 
into Church, and performed the rites of baptism. On the top of the steeple 
is an iron cross, fastened horizontally according to the magnetic meridian ; 
and accurately designating the four cardinal points of the compass. This 
was in former days surmounted by a large cock; which, they say, was the 
memento of Peter's denial of his Master. And on the top of the pulpit was 
Noah's dove holding the olive branch in her mouth ; but these emblems of 
those feathered worthies, have also mingled in the rubbish of oblivion. 
There was, also, until demolished within a few years, a Consistory-house, 
built in front of the Church door, according to the fashion of the Dutch 
Churches generally. This appendage was not erected until 17*21, as appears 
by a stone tablet, saved from the ruins, and imbedded in the front wall of 
the present building, inscribed P. VAS. MDCCXXI. The first bell used 
by the Church, was a present from Captain Anthony Rutgers, of the city of 
New-York ; and is the same bell now mounted in the cupola of the new 
court-house. The present Church bell was also procured from Holland, 
through the agency of Captain Rutgers ; a name dear to Kingston and to 
the Dutch Church. It was also the custom among our forefathers, immedi- 
ately before the ringing of the last bell for Church service, to be notified by 
a rap at each door, from the ivory-headed cane of the grey-headed sexton, 
who sung out aloud, "church time: " and for this circuit, was paid by each 
family two shillings per annum. The sexton also carried to the clerk, all 
written requests for the prayers of the congregation. The clerk had a long 
rod, slit at the end, into which he stuck the note, and handed it up to the 
minister : who, in those days occupied a very high pulpit in the shape of a 
half globe, raised on the top of a demi column : and canopied with a sound- 
ing board. The knob for the Minister's hat, exhibited a likeness of the 
president of the American Congress of 1777, with his name underneath 
" Laurens ; " thus uniting patriotism with devotion. The minister wore a 
black silk mantle, a cocked hat, and a neckband with linen cambrick " beffy" 
on his breast: for cravats were then uncanonical. The first psalm used to 
be set with movable figures suspended on three sides of the pulpit : so that 
every one as they entered, might prepare for the lofty notes : which in those 
days were printed with each psalm ; and it was deemed an accomplishment 
to dwell long and loud on a mi, fa, so/. And, to give them an ague-like 
shake, in those days of primeval simplicity; the deacons, when service was 
ended, rose in their places, the pastor distilled on them the dew of charity, 
in a short address ; they bowed, took each a bag fixed to a long black pole, 
with a small alarm bell fastened to the end, went their rounds, steering 
clear of the Sanopy, the pillars, and the bonnets ; and rousing the sleepy 
heads with experienced dexterity, and returned heavy laden with farthings 
or, with a copper coin called tokens, being stamped with " Kingston Church," 
and redeemed at stated times. Nor is it less worthyof notice in our precis.' 
ancestors, that they never approached a (-0111111111)1011 table, unless apparelled 
in black : a sort of silent language, saying, " Do this in remembrance of 
me." It was then also usual to stand round the sacramental hoard, which 
was placed at the foot of the pulpit. Instead of exhortations from the .Min- 
ister, after be had broken the bread and handed the cup, the clerk read 
aloud a suitable chapter from the Prophel Isaiah, or John the Evangelist. 
The clerk also read a portion of Scripture, before the Minister came into 



27 

Church, in order to withdraw the minds of the congregation from worldly 
matters. There was a canopied seat expressly set apart for the county 
clerk, the sheriff, and the town magistrates ; and also a separate bench for 
the trustees of the corporation. The rest of the seats were held, not in 
pews, but as single seats promiscuously ; and, at the death of the occupant, 
were again " booked " for life, to the next of kin ; or, on their neglect, to 
the first applicant. 

Until the year 1808, Kingston Church stood alone as an independent 
Church ; and having been so for a century and a half, it threw an air of 
superiority around her, which was not easily subdued by the regular judica- 
tories of the Dutch Church in America. A great consistory had once been 
called, and had rejected the jurisdiction of the General Synod. Our clergy 
were ordained in Europe, and we had received an ample charter, granted to 
us by the British Crown, November 17, 1719, which gave us full powers to 
conduct our internal affairs. But it was at last thought, that, as the Eng- 
lish language had nearly supplanted the Dutch : and, as it would therefore, 
be useless to send to Holland for our Ministers, we might rather unite witfi 
the ecclesiastical associations at our doors. Another great consistory was 
accordingly called September 5, 1808 ; and out of twenty-eight members 
only four voted against joining the Synod. Then we gave the hand of fel- 
lowship to our sister Churches. And, although our sturdy notions of inde- 
pendence at first caused man}' billows of trouble to roll over us, yet are we 
now at peace ; and we leave the i - ecords of our public charities to speak their 
own eulogy. 

Eleven clergymen have been settled in this Church from its first planting 
in the new world, to this time, viz : 

Blom, Van Gaasbeek, Weekstein, Nucella, Van Bosen, Beys, Vas, Man- 
cius, Meyer, Doll, Gosman. 

Of these, the Rev. P. Vas died here at ninety-six years of age, and his 
great-grandchild and other descendants are now living in this village. 

The Rev. W. Mancius also died here, and is buried within the walls of 
the Church. The Rev. Mr. Meyer died in New Jersey. The Rev. G. Doll, 
at the age of seventy-two, died, and was interred at Kinderhook. A half 
length portrait and true likeness of this good man, was taken by Vanderlyu, 
and is preserved in Kingston as a memorial to his numerous friends. The 
remains of his deceased consort Mrs. Doll, are also entombed within the 
Church. 

. Among the descendants of these clergymen, are the daughter of Dominie 
Mancius, and the great-grandson of Dominie Vas ; both of whom first par- 
took of the Lord's supper in this Church, sixty-six years ago ; and are yet 
among the regular attendants at the communion table. 

A stranger merely passing the burying ground, would be apt to think 
there had been great mortality here, from the number of graves and grave- 
stones. But on looking at the inscriptions, he will find some to exceed one 
hundred years. At the head of one grave stands a cedar post and a stone 
slab chiselled with the year 171". Yet this post is solid, and when chipped 
with a knife, has the odor peculiar to that kind of wood. On the subject of 
mortality it may be stated with certainty, that by the census of last year 
the population of the compact part of the village is 1170 ; and for the last 
twelve months the births were 31, and the deaths only 15. Let me add one 



28 

more, and a highly gratifying statistical fact. This congregation embraces 
1700 souls : of these 328 are communicants ; and of that number 240 have 
been added to the Church during the pastoral charge of the Rev. Mr. G-os- 
man ; a proof that he is " a burning and a shining light in the ministry." 
June, 1826. Boerhaave. 

A friend of the writer, Cornelius Van Gassbeek, Esq., for many years an 
elder, and prominent in the First Reformed Dutch Church at Kingston, has 
a diploma of his ancestor Rev. Laurentius Van Gaasbeek, second pastor of 
said church, received from the University of Lyden, Holland, where he 
graduated May 24, 1674. Also has an old oil painting of Rev. Johannes. 
Weekstein, third pastor of said church. Date on said painting, 1674. 



CITY OF KINGSTON. 



The following articles relating to Kingston's history, growth, industries, 
&c, published in the Kingston Daily Freeman of June 23d and 30th, 1883, 
are so immediately connected with the foregoing that writer has concluded 
to reprint the same, as follows : 

EARLY FACTS CONCERNING KINGSTON. 

The Men Who Founded It — Wars and Politics — Religious Inter- 
ests — Public and Private Buildings — The Prospect 
Twelve Years Ago. 

Editor Freeman: — In 1871 I wrote the following article which was then 
published in the Christian Intelligencer of New York, and republished in 
Kingston papers. At the time it was received with much favor, but as I 
was unable to furnish the great demand for papers containing the article, I 
now propose to offer the same for republication, preliminary to another arti- 
cle showing the changes that have since taken place, entitled : " City of 
Kingston, its Mountain Hotels, Railroads, Industries and Commercial 
Prosperity," indicative of its becoming what nature and the enterprise of a 
few citizens intended it to be — the foremost commercial city between New 
York and Albany. Frederick E. Westbrook. 

Kingston and its Overlook Mountain House. 

Kingston, formerly known as Atkarkarton, Wiltwyck and Esopus, had a 
few settlers who located among the Esopus Indians in 1(514. 

Rev. I. Megapolensis, third minister of the Collegiate Dutch Church of 
New York, in a letter on the state of religion in the province of New York, 
to the classis of Amsterdam, dated August 5, 1657, says : " Thomas Cham- 
bers and a few others removed to Atkarkarton, or Esopus (now Kingston), 
an exceedingly beautiful land, in 1(352, and began the actual settlement of 
Ulster county ; it was also known among the savages as the Pleasant Land." 

From the date of the first settling of this place, the following are the 
names of the Director-Generals of the province of New York, sent out from 
Holland : Andrisen Jores, whose administration commenced in 1623 ; Cor- 
nelius Jacobsen May, William Verhulst, Peter Minuit, under whose admin- 



30 

istration, in 1626, Manhattan Island (New York), was purchased from the 
Indians for $24. Then follow Wouter Van Twiller,. William Kief t, and 

last, the valiant, energetic, able and faithful Petrus Stuyvesant, whose ad- 
ministration commenced May 11, 1647, in whom the early settlers of Kings- 
ton, long harrassed by the savages, found a powerful friend. 

The wars with the Indians and negotiations and troubles with his English 
neighbors continued till New Amsterdam surrendered to the English in 
1664, when Stuyvesant (released from the vexations and turmoils of public 
life), after visiting Holland, returned to New York, and spent the rest of 
his days in retirement on his " Bowerie," where he departed his laborious 
and useful life in 1671. Under the administration of William Kieft, Rev. 
Evardus Bogardus, the first minister (and Adam Roelandson, the first 
schoolmaster) arrived in the colony, and officiated at New Amsterdam, in 
the Collegiate Reformed Church, from 1633 to 1647. He married the 
widow of RoelofF Jansen, who was then called Anneke Jans, or Roeloff, and 
had four children by her former husband, and after her marriage with the 
Dominie she had four children. The farm, about which so much money has 
been wasted in litigation, contained sixty-two acres, now of immense value 
— which land was granted to Roeloff Junsen in 1636. Upon his death it 
passed to his widow and heirs ; it went subsequently by the name of the 
" Dominie's Bowerie." After his death, in 1647, being lost at sea, his 
widow resided in New York, and in 1654 the grant of the farm was con- 
firmed to her and her heirs by Director-General Stuyvesant, and subsequent- 
ly confirmed by the English government. Her heirs disposed of this prop- 
erty to Col. Francis Lovelace, then Governor of New York. One of her 
sons, Cornelius, did not join in the conveyance, and it has been alleged that 
his heirs are entitled to a share in this vast property. In 1705 the farm 
(then called King's Farm) was leased by the colonial authorities to Trinity 
church, New York. The object of this statement is to assure the numerous 
alleged heirs residing at Kingston and vicinity, that it is an act of folly to 
pay lawyers for the recovery of this property, which is barred by the statute 
of limitations ; there is no earthly hope of success, and if the writer's advice 
is taken the object of this statement is accomplished. 

Dominie Blom, first minister at Wiltwyck (now Kingston), arrived from 
Holland and commenced his pastoral duties (as first minister) with sixteen 
members, May 12, 1660. Much might be said of this remarkable man. A 
work is soon to be published, being a history of the Dutch clergymen of 
Kingston, by a prominent minister, Rev. Dr. Hoes, which I am told will 
include an interesting sketch of the early history of this place. Constant 
depredations and loss of life occurred in disputes with the Indians during 
the whole of Stuyvesant's administration, and he frequently visited this 
place to quell those disturbances. His advice to the farmers of Wiltwyck 



31 

(now Kingston) was, for their security from the savages, to form a village, 
which they at first strenuously opposed, but subsequently acceeded to, and 
during Stuyvesant's sojourn the site of the present village was selected, and 
the work was commenced May 31, 105S, and while engaged in building and 
stockading the same the savages appeared, not with hostile intentions, but 
to present the site of the village to the Grand Sachem Stuyvesant as a pres- 
ent to grease his feet, as he had taken so long and painful a journey to visit 
them (more properly to chastise them). A charter was obtained May 16, 
1661, municipal powers were first granted, and the village was called Wilt- 
wyck, or Indian village, as it was a present from the savages. Evart Pels, 
Cornelius Barentson Sleight and Elbert Heyman llosa were appointed 
schopens, and Roeloff Swartwout, schout . A frightful and memorable mas- 
sacre occurred at this place by the Indians June 7th, 1663. After great 
loss of life and a partial destruction of their village, the savages were finally 
driven out by the exertions of Thomas Chambers, Swartwout, and the va- 
liant Dominie Blom. The latter has given a detail of this awful event. 
Thomas Chambers, first settler of Wiltwyck (now Kingston), was the recip- 
ient of an order issued by Governor Lovelace, dated October 16th, 167'2, 
setting forth that Capt. Thomas Chambers, Justice at Esopus, hath done 
signal service in the time of the Indian wars, and having a house not far 
from Kingston, and in acknowledgment of his services, the said house 
was erected into the Manor of Foxhall. This grant was confirmed in Octo- 
ber, 1686, by Governor Dongau. With all these temporal honors, he had 
no children. His first wife was Margaretta Hendricks. He subsequently, 
the writer believes, married the widow of Rev. Laurentius VauGaasbeek, 
whose son assumed the name of Abraham YanGaasbeek Chambers, and be- 
came heir to the Manor of Foxhall on the death of his stepfather in 1696. 
The name of Foxhall has now disappeared except from the Book of Patents. 
The widow of Thomas Chambers, on his death, married Col. Wessel Ten- 
Broeck, before mentioned, prominent at that period, and who was the great 
ancestor of the TenBroeck and VanGaasbeek families of this place. William 
Beekman was Sheriff of Kingston until the close of Governor Lovelace's 
administration in 1674, when he returned to New York. He was born at 
Hasselt, in Overrysel, in 1623, emigrated to America, and died in New 
York in 1707, with distinguished reputation, filling many official positions. 
The present William and Beekman streets, New York, bear his name. He 
married Catharine Deboogh, and had several children. His eldest daughter 
married a son of Governor Stuyvesant. Henry, his eldest son, settled at 
Kingston ; was Judge of Ulster county and member of the Provincial Leg- 
islature. His daughter Margaret married Robert R. Livingston, and among 
her children were Janet, wife of the late Richard Montgomery, who fell at 
the siege of Quebec, and the late Chancellor Robert R. Livingston. These 



32 

brief facts are fully set forth in Brodhead's, O'Callagan's, Miller's, Dun- 
lap's, McAuley's and Valentine's histories of New York. 

Among the prominent stone buildings now standing, which have survived 
the burning of Kingston, in 1777, and which were repaired after the Revo- 
lution, are the Hasbrouck Mansion, residence of Hon. A. Bruyn Hasbrouck, 
ex-President of Rutger's College ; the old Academy, where many prominent 
men of the seventeenth century received their preparatory education : the 
Schoonmaker Mansion, owned by Hon. M. Schoonmaker ; the Beekman 
House, late residence of Mrs. Rachel Beekman, a remarkable woman in her 
day, who died in her. 94th year, and who has related to the writer interest- 
ing events at the burning of Kingston by the British ; and the TenBroeck 
Mansion, corner of North Front street and Clinton avenue, erected by Col. 
Wessel TenBroeck about the year 167G. General Armstrong (who married 
a sister of the late Chancellor Livingston), Secretary of War, occupied this 
house until 1804, when he left for France, Minister to that court. The late 
Rev. Dr. C. D. Westbrook resided here till his death, in 1858. The Sen- 
ate of the State of New York was held in this building in 1777, the year of 
the adoption of its first constitution. 

Modern Kingston was incorporated in 1805. D is beautifully located, 
about one hundred and eighty feet above the level of the sea, on an exten- 
sive plain, surrounded by distant and near mountain scenery, extensive 
views of the lowlands, where runs the Kingston Creek, a rapid mountain 
stream which empties into the Hudson at Saugerties. Washington Ir- 
ving was an admirer of the magnificent scenery at this place, who, as he 
surveyed the Catskill Mountains, in company with ex-President VanBuren 
and General Smith, of Kingston, exclaimed, " This is the most impressive 
and beautiful mountain scenery that I have ever witnessed." The health 
of this place is well known, as persons known to the writer, former resi- 
dents of New York and Brooklyn, are residing here for benefit from disease 
of the lungs, and experience much relief. Its beautiful churches (the First 
Reformed is one of the most beautiful in the State), Presbyterians, Episco- 
palians, Baptists and Methodists have fine edifices. The Second Reformed 
church, erected in 1850, a beautiful and costly edifice, which was shortly 
after its erection embarrassed, was saved by the timely liberality of the 
Collegiate Church of New York, through the efforts of the Consistory, and 
efficient aid given to their application by the late Rev. Dr. C. D. West- 
brook. It is now out of debt, and has a wealthy and powerful congrega- 
tion, under the able ministry of Dr. Stitt, the present pastor. The intelli- 
gence, social habits, and refinements of its citizens render this place a de- 
lightful residence for those who arc desirous of being released from active 
business and the excitement and vexations incident to city life. Kingston, 
besides being a pleasant residence not surpassed by any village in this 



33 






State, is in a flourishing condition. The population of the town of Kings- 
ton, including Rondout, in 1840 was 5,800 . in 1870 it increased to 21,000. 
The population of Ulster county in 1840 was 39,000, and in 1870, S4.000 
— a ratio of increase exceeded by only a few places. The Delaware and 
Hudson Canal, the Rondout and Oswego Railroad, the Wallkill Valley 
Railroad, from New York, terminating at Kingston December next, and a 
railroad to connect with Rondout and Oswego to Boston, via the Connecti- 
cut Western, is in progress. The stone trade of the county is said to 
amount to $4,000,000 annually, and its lime and cement works are power- 
ful agencies at work in giving an increasing business character to this place, 
which is soon to become, with Rondout, a large city, separated by the dis- 
tance of one mile, to which it is united by a horse railroad. 

The Overlook Mountain Company of Kingston have recently completed a 
Mountain House on one of the highest peaks of the Catskills, said to accom- 
modate three hundred guests, and is in every respect a first-class hotel, kept 
by Mr. Lasher, wdiose reputation is well established. I would advise all 
who have an interest in mountain scenery to visit this interesting place, 
said to be 3,800 feet in height, and which overlooks many points of inter- 
est that cannot be seen at any other place in the Catskill Mountain.-. 

On the ever-memorable 12th of July last, the writer was one among a 
large party from Kingston and Rondout who visited this mountain house. 
It was a joyous and happy occasion of meeting many familiar faces and 
prominent and well-known citizens. Early in the morning, the lowering 
clouds, indicative of a storm, did not prevent this party from assembling in 
large numbers at the depot of the Rondout and Oswego Railroad ; ir was 
intended as a deserved compliment to the enterprise of the company (of 
which Mr. Artemas Sahler, a prominent merchant of Kingston, is President), 
and to the proprietor, Mr. Lasher (who is said to have expended $'25,000 
in furnishing and adorning this place), and to cheer onward by the presence 
of so many of its friends an undertaking which, in connection with a project 
now maturing for the erection, by a joint stock company, of a large, first- 
class hotel at Kingston for summer boarders, to accommodate three hundred 
guests, and intended to co-operate with its Mountain House, which, when 
completed, the success of the Mountain House will exceed the anticipations 
of its founders. To return to our party : toward noon the morning clouds- 
dispersed and the brilliant orb of day shone in unusual splendor. The 
scene before us was magnificent. To the cast the well-known Round Top 
appeared on a level with us. The westerly view of the Catskills was the 
subject of much remark ; it was a point of surpassing beauty. The cele- 
brated Paltz Point, a place of great resort, was noticed as an elevated hill : 
apparently we could discover the cultivated plains beyond, looking over the 



34 

Point. The most distant view north was above Albany, and on the south, 
near New York, and many other attractive points of interest in this elevated 
position and temperature of refreshing coolness, might be presented to the 
reader. The eve of the visitor gazes long upon the wide expanse of lovely 
and sublime scenery, spending hours in surveying the various points of in- 
terest. We had the pleasure of witnessing the beauty of the setting sun 
beyond the dark outlines of the distant mountains, which was only surpassed 
by the splendor of its rising on the following cloudless morning. During 
the evening the spacious parlors were filled ; the music of the Rondout 
Band, and the social qualifications of our party, and pleasant conversation 
relative to the scenes of the day, caused all to be cheerful and happy. At 
4 o'clock on the following afternoon many of our party returned to Kings- 
ton, where we arrived at 6 P. M. The view from the summit of Overlook 
is not exceeded in grandeur, beauty and extent of its natural and cultivated 
scenery by any other mountain top. The writer has visited the tops of 
Mount Washington and Mansfield during sunshine and storm ; while im- 
pressed with the vastness and extent of the mountain-tops of the former, and 
the beauty of the cultivated scenery of the latter, yet nothing seems to sur- 
pass the varied and indescribable beauties of mountain aud cultivated scen- 
ery as seen from Overlook. F. E. W. 
New York, August, 1871. 



KINGSTON'S INDUSTRIES AND PROGRESS. 

Its Cm rches. Schools, Steamboats, Railroads, Coal Trade and 
Manufacturing Establishments — Its Present 
and Future Greatness. 

Editor Freeman : — On this auspicious and memorable occasion (25th day 
of June, 1883), all nature smiles, and is glowing in luxuriant early summer 
beauty, adorning the varied and magnificent scenery with its lofty Catskills, 
which at no other place than Kingston appear so grand, sublime and at- 
tractive to the beholder. The bounteous harvest which Providence is about 
to provide, all conspire to gladden and cheer the pathway, and to elevate 
the minds of the large numbers of Kingston's most prominent citizens, as- 
sembled at the Union Depot of the New York, West Shore and Buffalo 
Railroad to witness the important event of the departure of its first train of 
cars to New York, which was celebrated by the firing of cannon, and ring- 
ing of church bells, a splendid band of music giving additional interest to 
the fairy scene. On the return of the cars in the evening the excitement of 
the morning was greatly increased, the number of citizens assembled was 



35 

about 4,000 : the fireworks and other expenses were incurred by the mer- 
chants uptown, who are ever ready to appreciate such an important event. 
This unexpected and great demonstration is indicative that the people un- 
derstand the benefits arising from a great trunk line of railroad passing 
through, equi-distant from both sections of this beautiful and historical city. 
This road is the port of upper Kingston during twelve months of each year, 
and settles forever the vexed question relative to the supremacy of either 
section. Upper Kingston's continued growth and power are now perma- 
nently established. Both sections can now enter upon a career of prosperity 
accelerated by the completion of its important public works. Having no 
railroads in her rear, and owing to the configuration of its mountains, this 
city is forever protected from such a calamity as has befallen its sister cities. 
Its coal, limestone, cement, brick, carriage factories, foundries and other 
varied industries, and the minerals to be obtained from the bowels of the 
earth, amounting to millions annually, as will be hereafter set forth, are in- 
ducements sufficient for its citizens of both sections to enter now upon a new 
order of things, and the only sectional feeling hereafter should be the laud- 
able one which will contribute most for the general prosperity of all. 

The completion of the West Shore Railroad to Kingston is the crowninf 
glory of the several railroads now in successful operation to this place, one 
of which has been extended, and its first train of cars has commenced run- 
ning this 25th day of June, 1883, from Tannersville Junction to the Kaaters- 
kill and Beach's old mountain house, the depot of which is at Catskill Lake, 
one-half mile distant therefrom. These several railroads will be briefly set 
forth. The Wallkill Valley, lately foreclosed, was purchased by Kingston's 
distinguished capitalist, Hon. Thomas Cornell, who after a great outlay of 
money and labor put the same in complete running order, and disposed of it 
lately to the West Shore and Buffalo Railroad. The bonding of the Ron- 
dout and Oswego Railroad, now known as the Ulster and Delaware, and its 
subsequent foreclosure and purchase by Hon. Thomas Cornell, are events 
too widely known to discuss. The effect of this foreclosure and bonding 
was to enable him to purchase the same and put it in complete order with 
steel rails, etc., running now to Stamford, its passenger and freight list 
doubling every short period. Without this bonding and foreclosure Mr. 
Cornell certainly would never have purchased the same. The argument has 
been advanced that the bonding of this road and partial completion caused 
the loss of the wagon trade from Delaware county, and it probably did for 
a time, which is freely admitted, and which all good citizens regretted. 
The day had, however, arrived when railroads in this important place were 
to supercede the wagon business. If Mr. Cornell had not purchased this 
road, the result would have been a struggle between this city and Catskill 
which should build this road to Delaware county, which is equi-distant 



36 

from both. In either event the Kingston wagon trade would inevitably 
have been superceded. All good citizens are gradually becoming reconciled, 
and I think will admit that the advent of railroads for the reasons set forth 
was a matter of necessity. The principal ownership of the Ulster and Del- 
ware road happily is in the hands of Mr. Cornell, of which he is President, 
and is in successful operation, with constantly greatly increased passenger 
and freight traffic, which has induced that sagacious, enterprising and ener- 
getic citizen, S. IK Coykendall, to build and equip the Stony Clove Kail- 
mad through a mountain pass to Hunter and Tannersville Junction, on his 
own responsibility. This important road (Mr. Coykendall being the Presi- 
dent thereof), requiring great engineering skill in its construction through 
an almost inaccessible narrow gorge between elevated mountains, forms a 
notch in the mountains, and as you approach Hunter the scenery that pre- 
sents itself is of remarkable beauty and sublimity. Hunter and its vicinity 
is a great boarding region. Thousands of summer boarders have for years 
invaded this mountain region of unsurpassed loveliness and beauty. The 
writer was among a large number of invited guests, a few months ago, that 
attended the celebration of the completion of the Stony Clove road to Hun- 
ter. It was an elegant day, and the ride through the Clove was oue of 
great interest, and on our arrival at Hunter we were all struck with the 
great display of flags and other decorations. After hearing speeches by Mr. 
Harding, General Sharpe and others as to the advantages Hunter and 
Kingston would derive from this great event of building and completing this 
road, and partaking of an elegant supper prepared by the citizens of Hun- 
ter, we returned and reached Kingston at 12 P. M., satisfied that a bond of 
fraternal union exists between Hunter and Kingston. 

A few months after this celebration Hon. Thomas Cornell commenced the 
Kaaterskill Railroad (of which he is the President), connecting Hunter with 
Harding's, or the Kaateiskill Hotel, and the old Mountain House, which 
was completed and opened on this memorable day, the 25th of June, 1S83. 
This new mountain^railroad is one of the grand enterprises of the year, is a 
fitting monument to individual enterprise, and will be appreciated by thou- 
sands of summer travellers, who will enjoy all-rail traveling from New 
York via Kingston to the Harding or Kaaterskill House, which can accom- 
modate 1,000 guests, and several thousand more that occupy the boarding 
houses from Hunter to said mountain houses. This statement is made as an 
act of justice to Kingston's all-rail route from New York via Kingston to 
the Kaaterskill Lake, among and above the clouds, half a mile equi-dis- 
tant from Beach's old mountain house and Harding's, or Kaaterskill Moun- 
tain House. 

Wonderful results have been accomplished since 1871. Twelve years ago 
Kingston was rejoicing over the successful building of the Overlook Moun- 



37 

tain House, anticipating it as a great event and a great blessing, together 
with a few small boarding places constituting all the accommodations in the 
mountains then accessible via Kingston. In lSS:} Kingston is delighted in 
having the Grand Hotel, Overlook, Kaaterskill Hotel, Laurel House, Kaa- 
terskill Falls, Tremper House, Guigou House, Hunter Hotel, and several 
other large hotels, and is the gateway by all- rail road from Kingston to 
nearly 1,000 hotels and boarding places in all parts of the Catskills. Car- 
riage roads have been built by Messrs. Kiersted, connecting Overlook north 
with Harding's and Beach's mountain houses, and in fact connecting all 
leading hotels, which increases the .variety, enables guests to ride and visit 
from one prominent hotel to another, and relieves the monotony during their 
stay. Who can estimate the commercial advantages to Kingston to be de- 
rived from the completion of these great public works ' Who can estimate 
the gratitude due to those prominent citizens, Hon. Thomas Cornell and Mr. 
S. D. Coykendall, for the solid and enduring benefits they have conferred in 
the completion of these works ? The eminent men that rear their own mon- 
uments by the efforts of their energies, skill, cost and labor, directed for the 
public welfare, to construct the same successfully, to survive either stone or 
marble, must be composed of no common material. The annals of this city 
will record their deeds, and posterity will long continue to enjoy the bene- 
ficial results arising from the wisdom displayed in their public services. 

This mountain traffic and travel will be a source of wealth and power to 
this city. It is now in its infancy, and when arriving at the manhood of its 
strength, will prove a great blessing in opening this important and rich sec- 
tion of country, including Hunter, Delaware county and beyond, to Kings- 
ton. A profound sense of gratitude now exists towards those eminent capi- 
talists, not only in this city, but by thousands of summer boarders and others 
elsewhere, who are so greatly benefitted by their munificent outlays and far- 
reaching and lasting results arising therefrom. The merchants of the upper 
section of the city, seeing the importance of this mountain trade, including 
Hunter and vicinity, and Delaware county, contributed largely to the ex- 
tension of Fair street to the Ulster and Delaware Railroad, and erected 
thereon a depot at this point convenient to the business of the upper section 
in order to share with its lower section in the advantages of its trade, etc. 
Being in operation over a year these enlightened business men have or will 
be amply compensated for their generous course of action. 

Kingston was organized and incorporated as a city in 1872, governed by 
a Mayor and eighteen aldermen. The general measures and workings of 
the city government have been on the whole satisfactory. A reduction of 
the city funded debt and reduction of taxation have been accomplished, 
while many public works of utility have been laid out and completed. The 
ordinary expenses of the city for all general purposes, exclusive of schools, 



38 

last year amounted to $32,000. The average during the last five year.-. 
has been about $30,000. In the annual appropriations during said year.- 
there has been a small surplus each year. 

Union avenue, Wall street, Fair street and Albany avenue have been 
paved, and has resulted in increasing facilities and beautifying and adding 
to the value of the property improved. The Kingston water works are in 
progress. Kingston has now recovered from the effects of the disastrous 
revulsion and panic which lasted several years, from 1871 to 1878 or 1879, 
causing a stoppage of public works. There was during that period a sur- 
plus of houses. Being a commercial place, few cities felt more seriously 
the result thereof, which shows more clearly the importance of the place, for 
at this period (1883) the public and private works are in operation on a 
large and more extended scale. The completion of the railroads has caused 
a great demand for dwellings and parts thereof. There are many boarding, 
unable to find a residence. Kingston is eighty-eight miles from New York, 
on the north side of Rondout creek, which is navigable for three miles ; 
population estimated 18,000. It is the terminus of the Delaware and Hud- 
son Canal, which last year brought to tide water 1,300,000 tons of coal, be- 
sides an immense tonage of lime, cement, lumber, grain and agricultural 
products. It has forty steamboats, thirty of which, including the Mary 
Powell, belong to Cornell Steamboat and Transportation Company. The 
elegant steamers James W. Baldwin, M. Martin and Eagle, belong to 
Messrs. Romer & Tremper Steam Transportation Company, of Kingston. 
It has a wharfage front of four miles, and vessels arrive and depart daily 
from this port to all parts of the United States with cement, lime, coal, lum- 
. ber, stone, brick, etc. The tonnage of coal, blue stone, ice, lime and ce- 
ment, lumber and brick shipped from this port amounts to 2,700,000 tons 
annually. In a debate a few years ago in the Legislature of this State, it 
was announced that the tonnage of this city exceeded that of the city of 
Albany. 

Kingston is the centre of the blue stone and flagging business, which is scat- 
tered through a section nearly ninety miles in length, reaching from near 
Delaware river to the Hudson. This is brought to this city by wagon, rail 
and canal. Among the prominent stone dealers are William B. Fitch, 
Noone & Madden, Sweeny Brothers, Daniel E. Donovan, Booth & Moran, 
EL Boice, J. V. Cummings. Noone & Madden furnished 250,000 tons of 
-tone for the abutment of Brooklyn and New York bridge, also large quan- 
tities for Erie Canal enlargement, Government lighthouses, etc., which re- 
quire stone of solidity and durability, and is considered superior for such 
purposes to granite obtained from other sections. This firm's monthly pay- 
ments, when on contract work, exceed $10,000 per month. The largest ce- 
ment manufactory in this city is the Newark Lime and Cement Work,-. 



which turned out last year 243,000 barrels. The cement is obtained by 
tunneling the hills which face the Rondout creek, and running galleries in 
the layers of rock. These galleries are nearly two miles in length and are 
often sunk to the depth of 200 feet. The average thickness of the layers is 
thirty feet and incline to all angles, lion, .lames (J-. Lindsley, first Mayor 
of this city, is the general manager. 

The Hudson River Lime and Cement Works, .Mr. E. ^!. Brigh am gen- 
eral manager, turns out about 150,000 barrels annually. The Lawrence- 
ville Lime and Cement Works, of which the late Mr. Beach, of New York 
(deceased), was President ; these works are very extensive. lie departed 
this life a few months ago, and was much respected in tliis city, Norton's 
cement works are very large and extensive. Time and space will not per- 
mit me further to enlarge and speak of the large number engaged in the 
trade. From the best information I can obtain (from Mr. Lindsley ami 
other sources), the annual amount of cement shipped from this port amounts 
to 1,500,000 tons. Other estimates may exceed that number. 

This city also contains four foundries and six machine shops and steam 
engine builders, two planing mills, one manufactory of malt, eighteen of 
cigars, one of glue, three tanneries, two of tombstones and monuments, nine 
breweries, thirteen carriage manufactories, six sash and blind factories, three 
blue stone rubbing and polishing mills, one butter tub factory. The princi- 
pal lumber and manufacturing yards are Burhans & Felten, Howard Oster- 
houdt, Overbaugh & Turner, Win. J. Turck, H. W. Palen, and others. 
Newspaper and printing, Freeman Job Printing Establishment, Kingsl m 
Argus, Kingston Dully Freeman, Kingston Journal and Weekly Freeman, 
the Daily and Weekly Leader, and J. P. ilageman, job printer. John 1>. 
Sleight, Tracy N. Stebbins, George L. Wachmeyer, and Stock & Rice are 
the most prominent manufacturers and dealers in furniture Crosby, Saltier 
& Co., Winne, Payntar, and A. & J. Hasbrouck are heavy dealers and 
manufacturers of hardware. The business of these several manufacturing 
firms is simply immense, including the several firms in the dry goods trade, 
where articles of luxury of every variety can be obtained. The drug busi- 
ness, of which Van Deusen Brothers, Clarke, DuBois, and Kennedy are 
most prominent, for the sale and manufacture of drugs, oils, etc. Orders 
are received from several states besides this vicinity. 

One felloes for wheels factory, two soap manufactories, one factory for 
standard scales, pump and block factory. The brick manufacturers arc -I. 
H. Cordts & Co., Albert Terry, Nathan Nickerson, P. J. Grurnee, John 
Streeter & Co., Charles Shultz, Nelson Stephens, A. S. Staples, Jacob 
Kline. Messrs. Cordts & Co. say they manufacture 135,000 brick daily, 
amounting for the season, five and one-half months, to L0,500,000. Their 
estimate for the whole of the brickyards is 75,000, » of brick. There are 



to 

five National Banks and three Savings Banks. The Fire Department con- 
sists of five steam engines, four hand engines and nine hose companies. 
The principal hotels are the Eagle Hotel, Kingston Hotel, Mansion House, 
Hill's Hotel, and there are many others. The ship and boat builders are 
Allen Brothers, Jefferson McCausland, Lewis Minnerly and Delaware & 
Hudson Canal Company ; one sled manufactory, Crosby, Sahler& Company. 
There ar< twenty-two churches in the city, with dates of their organization 
(a few excepted) — First Reformed Dutch Church, 1659 : Fair Street Re- 
formed Dutch Church. 1 S ts : Reformed Dutch Church of the Comforter, 
1853: St. John's Episcopal Church, 1832; First Baptist Church, 1832 ; 
First Methodist Church, 1821 : Second Methodist Church, 1855 ; Metho- 
dist Church, Eddyville. 1835 . St. Joseph's Church, Catholic, ; Pres- 
byterian Church, Rondout, 1833 ; First Baptist Church, Rondout, 1842 ; 
St. Mary's Church, Rondout, 1835 ; three Jewish churches: St. Peter's 
German Catholic Church ; Methodist Church in Rondout: Church of the 
Holy Spirit ; two Lutheran churches ; two Zion (colored) churches. 

The Principal of the Kingston Academy is F. J. Cheney, A. M., who has 
five assistants. The Principals of some of the schools are Professor Henry 
D. Harrow, William E. Mower, Jared Barhite, John J. Moran, Thomas 
Etaftery, Messrs. Griffin, McCabe and others, each having a large number of 
assistants. Hon. M. Sehoomnaker, lion. Augustus Schoonnmker, Hon. 
Frederick L. Westbrook, Postmaster Hayes, E. M. Brigham, Cornelius 
Burhans, II. D. Baldwin, J. E. Ostrander, Mr. Ridenour and others have 
by their joint and individual efforts advanced the cause of education until it 
has attained its present lofty stature and great usefulness to this, city. 1 
will simply take some extracts from an able annual report to the Board of 
Education of L 8 64, made by Hon. Marios Sehoonmaker, for many years 
Pr sident of the Board, relating to the origin, etc., of the Kingston Acade- 
my, as follows : 

Kingston Academy was originally founded by " the Trustees, Freeholders 
and commonalty of the town of Kingston," in the year 1774, for the instruc- 
tion of youth in the learned languages and other brandies of knowledge. 
The names of the Trustees of Kingston for that year, who had the honor of 
founding this now time honored institution, are Derick Wynkoop, Joseph 
Gasharie, Johannes Persen, Silvester Salisbury, Christopher Tappen, Adam 
I' rsen, Johannes DuBois, Abram Van Gaasbeek, Johannes Sleight, Ezekiel 
Masten and Wilhelums Houghtaling. They reserved to themselves the care 
and superintendence of the institution, and furnished for its use a suitable 
building and grounds at the corner of Crown and John streets, Kingston. 
The Academy as thus organized opened and continued a prosperous course 
under the charge successively of John Addison, Mr. Miller and Mr. Evart, 
as principals, until the ravages of a desolating war ; and the burning of the 
Academy at the general conflagration at Kingston, 1777, by the British, 
necessarily suspended instruction for a time. Its trustees soon commenced 



s 



41 

to repair damages, prepared for its reopening and reconstructed the Aca- 
demic Hall. The stone building on the southwest corner of John and Crown 
streets, then occupied as a private residence, was erected and prepared for 
the accommodation of the Academy, and Mr. Timothy T. Smith was em- 
ployed as principal December 1, 1792, and notified the public thereof. 
After its reopening, on the '21st of February, 1794, it again resumed its 
course of prosperity and celebrity. The trustees of Kingston applied to the 
Regents of the University of the State of New York for its incorporation. 
On the od of February, 1792, the document was signed by George Clinton 
as Chancellor. The distinguished character of this institution for many 
succeeding years and the names of the eminent men of its alumni testify to 
the wisdom of its policy. Among its alumni are Rev. Dr. Brodhead, Rev. 
Dr. Thomas DeWitt, Rev. Dr. C. D. Westbrook, and Rev. Dr. Ostrander, 
who received their preparatory education for college. Its semi-annual ex- 
amination was looked forward to with great expectations of delight by citi- 
zens of Kingston and surrounding country, both old and young, and weeks 
preceding the event preparations were made for its fitting celebration. At 
a meeting of the trustees, May 2, 1800, the death of John Addison, the late 
senior trustee, was announced. The seniority fell upon the Rev. George I. 
L. Doll. Mr. Smith having resigned his position as principal August 1, 
1801, Rev. David Warden was appointed principal tutor. On the 1st day 
of October, 1802, pursuant to a law passed March 8, 1802, Rev. George I. 
L. Doll, the then senior trustee, was unanimously elected First President of 
the Board. Previous to that the senior performed the duties of presiding 
officer under the title of Mr. Senior. At a meeting of the trustees of the 
Academy on the 81st day of January, 1804, they resolved to make applica- 
tion to the Regents of the University to found a college. The establish- 
ment of a college having been denied, the corporation of Kingston conveyed 
the whole of the real property which had been designed for a college fund 
to the trustees of the Kingston Academy, conveying 800 acres of land, in- 
cluding the triangular lot in Kingston upon which in 1834 the present 
Academy was erected. 

The writer of this article will state that on or about 1804, General John 
Armstrong, known as the boy soldier of the Revolution, Brigadier-General 
at twenty-five, author of the celebrated Newburgh Letters, and aid to Gen. 
Gates at the taking of Burgoyne's army, removed to Kingston from Rhine- 
beck for the better education of his children. To receive the benefits aris- 
ing from the Kingston Academy under charge of Rev. Mr. Warden (one of 
those children was afterwards the late Mrs. Wm. B. Astor, of New York), 
he hired from Mrs. Peter Van Gaasbeek and daughter the old Senate House 
of 1777, Kingston, she having removed therefrom and resided with her sis- 
ter, the late Mrs. Rachel Beekman. During its occupancy by General 
Armstrong, his brother-in-law, Chancellor Livingston, having returned as 
Minister to the French Court, this eminent man having filled the offices of 
United States Senator and Secretary of War, was appointed as his successor 
as Minister to the French Court. General Armstrong engaged Professor 



42 

Warden to accompany him to France ; he thereupon resigned his office as 
Principal of Kingston Academy. 

At a meeting of the trustees held on the '27th of March, 1830, it was re- 
solved to build a new Academy of brick on the triangular lot. The old 
Academy building was sold at auction on the 17th of April, 1830. A con- 
tract was made to build the Academy in 1834. Mr. Hubbard resigned as 
principal, and Mr. Isaac A. Blauvelt was appointed to succeed him. On 
the 31st of December, 1835, Rev. Dr. Gosman, second president, resigned, 
and Rev. Dr. John Lillie'was elected President of the Board. 

In 1883 Professor Cheney had been for three years the Principal of the 
Academy, and his administration has been eminently successful. The en- 
largement of the Academy edifice has become uecessaiy, and I am gratified 
to hear that this ancient institution is now again in a flourishing condition, 
and last evening (June 30th) was held the 109th Annual Commencement in 
Music Hall, and was witnessed by a very delighted audience. 

The writer of this article is not a native of Kingston. About twenty 
years ago he visited the west, beyond St. Paul, saw many of its prominent 
cities and places and found that its most prominent were on the west side of 
the Mississippi. The same thing will be noticed hereafter on our magnifi- 
cent Hudson. On my return, arriving at Rhinebeek on my way to New 
York (my place of residence the greater part of my life), my eyes were di- 
verted to the Catskills and its glorious scenery, and observed that in all my 
travels west there was nothing to compare with the varied and magnificent 
scenery of Kingston. I had then no pecuniary interest in Kingston what- 
ever. About 1871 1 showed Dr. Hoes Miller's History of New York, pub- 
lished in London in 1005 (he subsequently procured a copy). In it were 
plans of three places, New Amsterdam (now New York), Fort Orange (now 
Albany), and Kingston, each dated 1095 — the only places then of any ac- 
count in the province of New York. At the time when Congress was - - 
lecting the site for the capital of the nation, the several states were called 
upon to name a suitable place. The State of New York named Kingston ; 
Washington, however, was selected. 

In General Sharpens statement of the old houses now standing at Kings- 
ton, the walls of which survived the burning, 1 think he named forty-six in 
all. These are our venerable buildings, among which is the Senate House 
of the State in 1777, where the first Senate was held in the year of the 
adoption of its first Constitution, of which that great man, Chief Justice 
• lay, was the author. The walls of this building were erected by Kingston's 
prominent citizen, Col. Wessel Ten Broeck the elder, about 1676. On the 
records in the Ulster County Clerk's office, on his being inducted into pub- 
lic office, is his affidavit made about 1676, stating that he was then 40 years 
old. On the death of the illustrious Thomas Chambers, owner of the Manor 



43 

of Foxhall, Col. Wessel TenBroeck married his widow. In the annals of 
Albany it is stated that the TenBroecks' ancestors were descended from the 
Wessels. He was without doubt the great ancestor of all that bear his 
honored name. 

Citizens of Kingston, preserve these ancient buildings erected on streets 
laid out by the friend of Kingston, the late Colonial Governor Petrus Stuy- 
vesant, more than 200 years ago, as monuments to remind us of the early 
sufferings and privations endured by our heroic ancestors from savage and 
Christian foes. They are, however, slowly disappearing before the changes 
incident to the onward march of time. Preserve them as relics of a heroic 
and suffering period, and as vestiges of our country's glory and achieve- 
ments. 

The writer in compiling this article, which he voluntarily assumed, pre- 
pared it for publication in one week. Instead of one, four weeks' time should 
have been allowed to complete what was intended to aid our public spirited 
men who have completed important public works for the prosperity of Kings- 
ton and the welfare of its citizens. I am indebted to Hon. Mr. Louusberv. 
Mr. Schepinoes, City Clerk, Gen. Sharpe, Mr. Coykendall, Cornelius Bur- 
hans and Mr. Lindsley for valuable information to aid me in this matter. 

Frederick Edward Westbrook. 

Kingston, June 25, 1883. 



COMPLIMENTARY LETTERS. 



Among numerous letters received relative to Kingston Senate House, the 
writer will insert copies of only a few thereof. He was desirous of includ- 
ing a letter received from Martha J. Lamb, the elegant and accomplished 
historian of the city of New York, which letter being mislaid, in lieu there- 
of will insert a copy of one received from the former owner and editor of the 
Kingston Daily Freeman and Weekly Freeman and Journal, Mr. Charles 
Marseilles, whose health is substantially restored. Commencing said copies 
with two received from the late distinguished President Hasbrouck, of Rut- 
gers College, New Jersey ; also in their order of dates, one from that emi- 
nent historian, Hon. Benson J. Lossing. 

Kingston, N. Y., April 7, 1875. 
Dear Sir : — 

I can give you no further information relative to the house you speak of 
[meaning Senate House], now occupied by my friend, Ref. Dr. Van Sant- 
voord, beyond what is mentioned in your letter of inquiry. The facts as 
stated by Mrs. TenBroeck are no doubt authentic. As I mentioned to you 
in our last interview, I remember that Gen. Armstrong occupied the house 
with his family at the time of his appointment to the French Embassy by 
President Jefferson. 

I sympathize with your efforts to perpetuate the history of this old settle- 
ment dating back as long as 1614, when a fort was erected in this vicinity. 
The traditions of the past are fast fading away. I trust you will succeed in 
gathering them up. 

Respectfully yours, 

A. Bruyn Hasbrouck. 

Fued'k E. Westbrook, Esq., New York City. 



Kingston, N. Y., May 18, 1875. 
J/// Dear Sir : — 

A score of the little hindrances that are apt to occur even in the leisurely 
path of an aged man have prevented me from making an earlier acknowl- 
edgement of your kind letter. I needed not this demonstration of your love 
of antiquarian research in a county in which you are by descent so closely 
ssociated. 



45 

Our Ulster Historical Society commenced well. The war called away 
most of our active members, and its meetings were suspended during its 
progress. I made one or two unsuccessful efforts afterwards to revive it 
and resign my presidency for a more efficient superintendence, but nothing 
has of late been done and the society now, if not dead, is at least in a very 
sound sleep. A rich mine is still to be worked which the society only 
opened. 

I regret to say our collections are out of print and I fear I shall not be 
able to supply your wants. I have from time to time applications made to 
me, even from distant States, for copies of our collections, which I regret 
I cannot furnish. You are fortunate in procuring the two numbers you men- 
tion. Among other papers which would interest you are papers on the set- 
tlement of New Paltz, by Edmund Elting ; a history of the church then 
from its first establishment by the Huguenots, by Dr. Stitt, and a very full 
history of Vaughan's expedition up the Hudson and the burning of Kings- 
ton, &c, by Col. Pratt, whose death was a severe loss to the society. 

If any of these, or others which you have not; should unexpectedly fall in. 
my way you shall have them. 

Believe me, resp'y yours, 

A. Bruyn Hasbrouok. 

Fred'k E. Westbrook, Esq., New York. 



The Ridge, Dover Plains, May 28, 1883. 
.My Dear Sir : — 

Please accept my cordial thanks for your kind courtesy in sending me an 
impression of an engraving of your summer residence at Kingston, the old 
Senate House of 1777, and hallowed by the lapse of years since it was built 
and by the precious historical associations which cluster around it. 

In 1848, while at Kingston. I made a sketch of a stone house on the 
south-west corner of Maiden Lane and Fair street, then the residence of 
Mr. Baldwin (since torn down). I was then informed that the house named 
was the one in which the State Convention was held when that body adopted 
the State Constitution. 

I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you at Fishkill next Saturday on 
the occasion of a Centennial celebration, where I expect to have the pleas- 
ure and profit of listening to a historical oration from the lips of your 
brother, Judge T. R. Westbrook. 

Yours, very truly, 

Benson J. Lossing. 

Frederick E. Westbrook, Esq. 



Exeter, New Hampshire, August 27, 1883. 
Fred. E. Westbrook, Esq. : 

My Dear Sir : — I see by the Freeman, which I receive daily, that yon 
are still in Kingston, and that you had the old Senate House gorgeou^h 



46 

decorated on the occasion of the recent Firemen's Convention in that city. 
* * * * jf t ] ie St a te had more public-spirited citizens like you the old 
Senate House would not remain long the property of a private citizen, but 
would become the property of the State. The State ought, certainly, to be 
in the possession for all time of that building, which fills so important a 
place in the history of New York. 

I understand that the population of Kingston is rapidly increasing. By 
the way, perhaps you are aware that Exeter, here in New Hampshire, was 
the original capital of the State as Kingston was of New York. 

Sincerely yours, 

Charles Marseilles. 



Newburgh, N. Y., Sept. 5th, 1883. 
Fred. E. Westbrook, Esq : 

My Dear Sir : — Please accept my thanks for your reminiscences of the 
early history of the city of Kingston, and especially the photograph of the 
Wessel Ten Broeck mansion, since occupied as the Senate building of 1777. 
Although personally unacquainted with you, I knew your father, Rev. Dr. 
Westbrook, quite well, and recollect distinctly his accepting the editorial 
department of the Christian Intelligencer, at its inception, and which I have 
continued to read from that day. It was my pleasure to spend a week in 
Kingston during the session of General Synod, some years since, where I 
enjoyed the hospitality of your brother, Judge Westbrook, with whom and 
his family I formed a very pleasant acquaintance ; to whom please extend 
my regards. 

Hoping we may in the near future become more intimately acquainted, 
I am 

Sincerely and truly yours, 

Thomas Jessup. 



Fisiikill-on-the-Hudson, Sept. 18, 1883. 
. Mi/ dear Mr. Westbrook : — 

I acknowledge with pleasure your interesting and welcome letter, and 
warmly congratulate you on the success which your historical writings are 
receiving. I shall be very happy to see your pamphlet. I suppose you 
have seen in the last Harper's Weekly, Sept. 15th, a picture of your historic 
Senate House, in the interesting article on the old capital at Albany, re- 
cently taken down. 

I am, as you know, very fond of such historical studies, and they open to 
me fields of rare delight. 

I thank you for your kind mention of my Fishkill centennial address. 

Your brother gave an eloquent address, and Judge Graham, of Newburgh, 
acquitted himself well. 

Very truly, with kind remembrance to the Judge, 

J. Hervey Cook. 



CLOSING REMARKS. 



THE FISHKILL CENTENNIAL. 

June 2, 1883, was a grand day for glorious old Fishkill, Dutchess Coun- 
ty, N. Y., (writer's native town). Five thousand persons participated in 
the Fishkill Centennial of the disbandnient of a detachment of Washington's 
army at Fishkill village during its five years' service in the war of the Rev- 
olution. The house which Washington occupied while at Fishkill, still 
standing, was the residence of Colonel John Brinckerhoof, a man of distin- 
guished reputation, and with whom Washington advised and frequently spent 
days at his home. 

At 2.30 P. M., a Revolutionary cannon was fired thirteen times in honor 
of the then thirteen States, and the procession moved, headed by Piano's 
band ; next was Dr. C. Kittridge's choir of male singers, next the Fishkill 
centennial committee, the clergy, the speakers and the thirty-eight young 
ladies representing the thirty-eight states. 

Hon. Benson J. Lossing was chairman, assisted by thirteen vice-presi- 
dents. Among these were Mr. Brett, over ninety years of age, and General 
Schofield, an officer in the army of 1812. 

The proceedings commenced with prayer by Rev. Robert A' an Kleeck, 
followed by Judge Monell, of Fishkill, chairman of the committee of ar- 
rangements, who delivered an able address. When alluding to the thirty- 
eight young ladies on the platform, the judge said blushingly : " The repre- 
sentatives of the stars, and the blue ground of the flag ; also, Heaven's first 
best gift to man. Let the toast be, ' Dear woman,' and let the band respond." 
This seemed to largely increase the fervor and the patriotism of the occasion. 

Mr. Lossing then introduced Hon. T. R. Westbrook, of Kingston, who 
delivered the first historical address. Then followed J. Hervey Cook, 
Esq., the historian of Fishkill, who delivered an able address. Judge 
Graham, of Newburgh, was the next speaker. He was listened to with 
marked attention. Mr. Lossing then announced that a poem by Mary 
Westbrook would be published with the proceedings. 

Music, prayer, and the benediction by Rev. Mr. Thomas, pastor of the 
Revolutionary Dutch church of the village, closed the proceedings, which 
will long be remembered by all present. 



48 

THE NEWBURGH CENTENNIAL. 

October lb, 1883, at Washington's headquarters, city of Newburgh, will 
be celebrated with great ponipt and splendor the one hundredth anniversary 
of its occupation by the illustrious Washington, at the closing scenes of the 
successful war for liberty and independence, on that august and memorable 
occasion in the presence of the President of the United States and represen- 
tatives from many of its states and others who will on that occasion assem- 
ble to witness the laying of the corner stone of the monument for which 
Congress has appropriated $35,000, to hear the statesman and orator, Mr. 
Evarts ; to see the grand parade and ships of the American navy riding at 
anchor gracing the silvery waters of the majestic Hudson ; the grand old 
Fishkill mountains with their rich and fertile vallevs (the native town of the 
writer), all conspiring to cause the bay of Newburgh always to be the most 
commanding and most beautiful view that presents itself to the beholder any- 
where on the waters of the noble Hudson, which on this occasion will present 
an animated and never to be forgotten scene. 

Newburgh has its honored Headquarters ; Kingston possesses the old 
Senate House of 1777, whose walls survive the lapse of time and the power 
and efforts of the enemy, and will continue for centuries to come. Guard 
and protect these venerable relics of a suffering period, as monuments 
to perpetuate the remembrance of the actors of those mighty scenes, long 
sleeping in death, and of our country's glory, and to serve as a fraternal 
bond of union that ought always to exist between the cities of Newburgh and 
Kingston, who were at an early period sharers in common sufferings, as they 
are now enjoying the blessing of lasting peace. 

General Arthur, President of the United States, who is to be present, has 
visited Kingston's Senate House on a former occasion. 

Let there be a general movement of the patriots of Kingston for New- 
burgh on the 18th of October (within one hour's ride) to witness this grand 
uprising of the people on that memorable day. 

Frederick Edward Westbrook. 

Kingston, October 16, 1883. 




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